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TOP 10 PLACES GLOBAL

TOP 10 PLACES GLOBAL GARDENS Discover the secrets of the world’s most glorious gardens, from cactus beds to Arctic botanicals 1 MATEUS PALACE AND GARDENS, PORTUGAL In Vila Real, you can visit the extraordinary Mateus Palace. A perfect example of baroque architecture, the palace was designed to present a series of vistas and mirror images. Meanwhile, its delightful gardens are among the most beautiful in Europe, with topiaries, box hedges, elegant statues and a spectacular tunnel of cedars. A highlight is the lake, a body of water built in the 1950s to reflect the palace’s main facade and home to a João Cutileiro sculpture. 2 SANSSOUCI, GERMANY Built in 1747 for Frederick the Great, king of Prussia, as a summer palace and garden to rival the Château de Versailles in France, Sanssouci—which translates as “living without a care”—is a rococo gem that sits above vine-clad terraces. It became a sanctuary for the king, a place he could withdraw from the world with his beloved dogs. Its location and layout reflect the pre-Romantic ideal of harmony between man and nature. 86 VIKING.COM EXPLORE MORE

ARCHITECTURE & DESIGN 3 PETERHOF PALACE, RUSSIA Otherwise known as the “Russian Versailles” for its ornate architecture and immaculate gardens, the Peterhof Palace was formerly part of an opulent royal palace complex, surrounded by extravagant fountains and a neat parkland. The historic complex was commissioned by Peter the Great in the 18th century and became a summer residence of the tsars—its fascinating history is largely responsible for its status as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Today, visitors are welcomed by the sight of the palace’s sunshine-yellow exterior and with views of the Gulf of Finland. 5 SCHÖNBRUNN PALACE, AUSTRIA One of the most important monuments in Austria, Schönbrunn Palace is also one of Europe’s grandest palaces. Discover opulent rooms and period furniture, as well as beautiful formal gardens. Unsurprisingly, the whole ensemble—the palace and the park, with its fountains, statues, palm house and zoo—is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. 4 ARCTIC-ALPINE BOTANICAL GARDEN, NORWAY Tromsø, the largest city in northern Norway, is set against a backdrop of snow-topped mountains. The city lies more than 200 miles north of the Arctic Circle, yet the climate is comfortably warmed by the Gulf Stream. You can visit the Arctic Cathedral and walk through Tromsø’s Arctic-Alpine Botanical Garden, the world’s northernmost botanical garden which features plants from the polar regions and high mountains. The beautiful, giant Himalayan blue poppies are always a favorite with visitors. EXPLORE MORE VIKING.COM 87