France tours

The French Riviera has long attracted artists, gardeners and travellers with its extraordinary combination of sunshine, dramatic coastlines and wonderfully varied landscapes. Here, generations of passionate gardeners have created remarkable gardens where exotic plants flourish in the Mediterranean climate, from botanical collections to elegant estates overlooking the sea. Enjoy a full day at the spectacular Menton Lemon Festival, when the town bursts into colour with elaborate floats, sculptures and displays celebrating the humble citrus fruit. Alongside the festivities, discover the exceptional gardens of the Riviera, including the Fondation Ephrussi de Rothschild with its magnificent sea views, the richly planted Hanbury Gardens just across the Italian border and the Jardin Exotique d’Èze perched above the Mediterranean. From Villa Thuret and Serre de la Madone to the gardens of Monte Carlo and La Mouissone, uncover a fascinating world of plants, design and creativity.

An in-depth analysis of two of palaeontology’s greatest finds. Palaeolithic cave painting and engravings are mankind’s first recognisable artistic expression, but they mean even more than that. They show creatures which were extant during the Ice Age and shed light on hunter gatherer culture thousands of years old, with many archaeologists considering the art to be a highly sophisticated way of expressing complex beliefs about the supernatural world. The discovery of the caves at Cosquer in the Ardeche in 1985 and Chauvet – Pont d’Arc in Provence in 1994 were of huge significance. Exceptional because of the number and variety of the animal images depicted, their extreme age and quality, together with the sheer size of both sites with their interlocking galleries; these caves revolutionise our understanding of emerging human creativity.

The beauty of the Dordogne is undisputed – lush walnut groves and mellow limestone, dramatic châteaux and sinuous rivers come together in one of France’s most captivating regions. For those fascinated by the past, however, its greatest treasures lie beneath the surface, in one of Europe’s richest concentrations of decorated caves. Here, vivid images of wild animals and human figures survive in ochre and charcoal, some dating back 30,000 years. Decades of research have transformed our understanding of the people who created them, revealing how their art evolved alongside changing environments and societies. We visit some of the region’s world-famous rock art sites, museums and interpretation centres, getting as close as possible to the lives of our Ice Age ancestors and the extraordinary artists who left these remarkable works behind.

With elegant gardens, dazzling azure skies and a stunning coastline which inspired a generation of artists, the French Riviera has retained its glamorous allure for over a century. Join us to visit some of the finest gardens that were created here in this sun-kissed playground of the rich, including those of Thomas Hanbury and the Rothschilds. The Jardin Botanique Val Rahmeh, filled with lush tropical foliage and a lovely lily pond, showcases an exceptional array of vegetation from a wide geographic area. At St Jean Cap Ferrat, we visit the exquisite gardens of the Fondation Ephrussi de Rothschild, which contain many interesting plants and are surrounded by marvellous sea views. Just over the border in Italy are the incomparable Hanbury Gardens (La Mortola), arguably the greatest of all the Riviera gardens, in the richness of their collection and the unforgettable power of their presence. We also visit Villa Thuret at Cap d’Antibes, Serre de la Madone in Menton, the exotic gardens of Monte Carlo and the tranquil gardens of La Mouissone. We also visit Grasse, centre of the French perfume industry since the 16th century and home to an International Rose Festival. The pretty hill town lies about 15 kilometres inland from Cannes but 300 to 400 metres above sea level, making for a very hospitable climate. Its favourite son was Jean-Honoré Fragonard (1732-1806), whose decorative paintings suggest his own fascination with flowers. Visitors to the rose festival should expect a variety of fringe attractions, including perfume displays, but roses are everything to the exhibitors, who take the competitive aspect very seriously.

Join us on a relaxing cruise on the sinuous River Seine, into which we have woven a series of visits to the outstanding gardens of Normandy, including Monet’s garden at Giverny, which continues to enthral countless visitors more than 90 years after his death. Other garden highlights include the Château de Mirosmesnil, which represents four centuries of harmonious architectural styles, and Le Vasterival, one of the finest gardens of its type and a lasting legacy of its creator, the Princess Sturdza. At the Jardin de Plume, we discover a natural yet structured contemporary garden in a typical Normandy orchard. We also enjoy a visit to France’s most iconic palace, the Château de Versailles. Waking up to a new view every day (without having to pack and unpack!) is always a lovely experience and combined with these wonderful gardens, this promises to be an unforgettable cruise holiday.