The story of French formal gardens

France has an outstanding architecture recognizable in many ways. All over the country you can visit buildings and stroll through small villages among the most beautiful in the world without ever having that deja-vu feeling. Well, gardens are also very specific and unlike any other. 

Countries around the globe have different styles of gardens, like Japanese and Chinese gardens, Italian gardens and English gardens. 

Therefore, it is important to call them properly as they differ from country to country and are culturally rooted. 

If you know Versailles and have had the chance to visit the extraordinary castle, you must have visited the gardens that also leave you speechless. Behind the masterpiece is the genius of André Le Nôtre, gardener of Louis XIV, who is behind the Jardins des Tuileries as well. The gardens of Versailles are almost 2,000 acres big and have hundreds of flowerbeds, thickets, fountains, topiaries, antiquity inspired statues, long and large paths, and perfectly mown lawn. Basically, Versailles gardens are the archetypes of french formal gardens. 

What are their distinguishing features? 

French formal gardens are extremely organized and thought-out for every detail ; that is probably the first trait one notices about them. They are characterized by typical geometric shapes, some even being hedge mazes. But most importantly they are creating visual effects of drawings. 

More than mere gardens, french formal gardens are a heritage, art and real architecture that shows the taming of nature. 

Across the Channel, you will find their complete opposites, the English landscape gardens. Those do not have any symmetry or some sort of arrangement, a lot more flowers and colors. They are based on this organized chaos that results in harmony, but it’s a mastered illusion that nature created it when in reality was well-thought by a man. English gardens started to be trendy in the 18th century after French supremacy in the 17th century. 

Here's our selection of the most beautiful french gardens - we will not include Versailles in that list, but most of them are located on the domains of castles you could also visit. 

• Jardins du Château de Chantilly
  
• Jardins du Château de Vaux-le-Vicomte
  
• Jardins du Château de Chenonceau
  
• Jardins du Château de Villandry
  

Of course, there are many other superb French formal gardens to visit, each offering a unique glimpse into the artistry and grandeur that define France’s horticultural heritage!