Inspiration

Get inspired by these beautiful French gardens

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Ella Perryman

Sawday's Expert

5 min read

France has some of the most impressive gardens in Europe, and they have long inspired the country’s best artists and writers. As well as the famous spots like Les Jardins de Versailles or Le Jardin de Plantes, there are plenty of hidden gems to discover in smaller guest homes and hotels. We round up some of our owners' top tips for recreating a French garden at home.

 

Pottery

You’ll often find antique and vintage pottery filled with greenery in a French garden. It is a lovely way to create a focal point or to highlight features such as a doorway or garden gate.

French roses and lavender

French roses and lavender bushes are obligatory in many French gardens. Find them as part of a rose garden, along the driveway, surrounding a house or even trailing over an arbour. Not only do they smell good, but they ooze romance too.

Vegetable gardens

There are very few things we love more than a house equipped with its own kitchen garden. Many of our beautiful places have inspiring vegetable gardens, growing the freshest and most local produce you can get. As well as tomatoes and strawberries, why not have a go at growing other veg like potatoes, spinach, kale and beetroot?

Cypress and olive trees

These trees are very common in the south of France and particularly in the warm Provence region. You’ll find pines lining long driveways and olive trees dotted around gardens. As they are evergreen, you can enjoy them all year round.

Seating areas

In most French gardens, you’ll find idyllic seating areas perfect for an afternoon tea in the sun. Some will be placed in the courtyard or terrace, others in amongst the roses. One thing’s for sure though, they will always be accompanied by a climbing plant. Grape vines are commonly found in France, as is wisteria and jasmine.

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Ella Perryman

Sawday's Expert

Outdoor enthusiast from the sea to the tallest mountains, content creator, dog mum. Growing up in Devon means Ella knows the south west very well but she also spends a lot of time in Wales and is on the lookout for dog-friendly places and activities wherever she goes. Her years in marketing have given her a keen eye for an interesting story and she loves the character she finds in Sawday's places, from decor and design to the owners' bookshelves.
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