Archive for 'Parks & Gardens in France'

Nice is home to lots and lots of truly beautiful buildings and wonderful architectural gems both in and around the city. There are plenty in the city itself and if you have found a vacation rental in Nice, you don’t have to go far to refresh your eyes and soul with manmade architectural wonders. However, if you fancy experiencing the “around” part of “in and around the city” and venturing a bit further afield then why not go exploring the French Riviera and take a trip to the stunning Villa et Jardins Ephrussi de Rothschild, which really does make for a perfectly dreamy daytrip destination.

Home to a rich fine and decorative arts collection located inside a Belle Époque Italian-style palazzo and an incredible surrounding park that boasts nine distinct gardens, this gem on the Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat is a truly magical place. It was built by the heiress Béatrice Ephrussi de Rothschild at the beginning of the twentieth century over the course of seven years during which ten different architects were hired and fired in turn, the whole thing eventually came together in perfection and served as her residence and party villa until the 1930s. In her will, it was bequeathed to the Institute de France for use as a fine art museum and today displays over 5,000; from fine furniture to paintings and statuary to porcelain dinnerware.

Those who love the Great Outdoors and like to get out and about to explore will have plenty of places to do so while holidaying in France, which ranges from a windswept northern coast and a Mediterranean south coast to Alpine peaks, and from fields of lavender to lush pastures. Amongst all of your options, one of the most picture perfect of all is the 2,000-hectare Néouvielle Nature Reserve. Located right next to the Pyrenees National Park, this incredible part of the world is a lake district with snow peaks and an idyllic glacier-sculpted scenery comprised of meadows, pine forests, mirror-like lakes and much more besides. If you have found a vacation rental in Midi-Pyrénées, be sure to come and see this computer wallpaper come to life...

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The charming city of Rennes, with its Medieval historic centre, beautiful piazzas, and incredible architecture, has a wonderfully relaxed atmosphere and boasts lots to see and do. One thing that we recommend, in particular if you have found a vacation rental in Brittany and are exploring the city, however, is grabbing a good book, picking up a coffee and going for a wander and a sit in Parc du Thabor, one of France's most beautiful parks.

Elegant and romantic and well-planted with colourful flowers, it was previously part of the orchards of the former Benedictine abbey of St-Mélaine. In the 19th century, the park was redesigned by Denis Bühler, a famous 19th-century landscape artist, and boasts endless flowers, trees, a duck pond, a waterfall, a playground, a rose garden, an aviary, a bandstand, greenhouses and an orangery. Eventually opened as a public space it was originally only allowed to permit the entry of men but it now an integral part of city life and a beloved space that is open to all.

This week, we are talking about the many charms of the city of Lyon and why it should be your next holiday destination. One of France's lesser-known touristic gems, it is not as flashy as some other locations but is ancient, steeped in history and culture and full of things to see and do. Here are more reasons to find a holiday rental in Rhône-Alpes and plan a trip to explore this wonderful city...

5. Parc de la Tête d’Or

This beautiful park is reasons enough to spend time in the city. Located just to the north of the centre, it is one of the largest urban parks in the country and is home to a zoo and France’s foremost botanical garden. In spring, the international rose garden is a must and the 20,000 plant varieties and pretty 19tt century greenhouses of the botanical garden and African Plain of the zoo are always delightful!

Nice is a stunning holiday destination as it offers the best of a major urban destination in France – with all the restaurants, bars, cafes, stores, cultural hotspots, and things to see and do that that implies – and a seaside getaway on the French Riviera. There really is an endless list of things to keep you occupied and the type of setting that gladly facilitates those who don't want to do anything at all, however, there are some absolute must-sees and things to definitely pencil into your itinerary. These are our picks of the ten best things to and do the next time you find a vacation rental in Nice...

1. Visit the beach

As Nice is on the coast – on the French Riviera, one of the most beautiful stretches of coast in France, and the world – it would be inexcusable not to spend some time wandering the beach, playing in the water or strolling along the promenade.