Renowned for its rose gardens, our tour takes place in May, at the height of the flowering season for roses. Among the highlights are visits to the Botanical Garden (La Tête d’Or) in Lyon and the restored gardens at Château de Cormatin near Cluny, as well as a viewing of the gardens at Chamboeuf accompanied by owner Matthias Meilland of the well-known rose nursery whose family produced the rose ‘Peace’.Lyon is a fascinating city, rich with history, situated at the confluence of the rivers Saône and Rhône. For the first few days we are based in the central Ainay district at the recently restored Hotel de l’Abbaye, contemporary in style and well-known for its excellent restaurant.We then travel into the countryside to the north, with its rolling hills and exuberant private gardens set against a backdrop of woodland and rows of vines. Attractive villages are interspersed with well-known names, as this is the heart of Beaujolais country.We stay at Château de Pizay, with a beautiful garden featuring chequer-board clipped yews and well-planted borders, and its own wine estate. The hotel is welcoming and comfortable, with an excellent restaurant.We travel in comfort by Eurostar from London St Pancras to Lyon with a change at Lille. The group will not exceed 16 participants.

DAY ONE – TUESDAY 14 MAY D

Early morning departure on Eurostar from St Pancras to Lille where we change to a TGV direct to Lyon. Time to enjoy the changing scenery on the journey southwards. On arrival, the group is met at the train station for the transfer to Hôtel de l’Abbaye situated in a peaceful setting in the centre of town. We meet for an aperitif and a short talk on the tour programme before dinner.

DAY TWO – WEDNESDAY 15 MAYBL

  Morning visit to the gardens of La Belle Allemande above the River Saône. They are laid out along the length of two terraces surrounding an 18th century house associated with Jean Kleberger from Nuremberg. The present owner will personally show us the garden developed over the years with an emphasis on roses. We go on to visit the famed Botanical Garden, La Tête d’Or, in Lyon where we enjoy an afternoon exploring the large diversity of plants, especially roses, accompanied by one of their specialist guides. Evening free, perhaps to have dinner in a local ‘Bouchon’ restaurant, with a menu featuring cuisine typical of the city in warm, informal surroundings.

DAY THREE – THURSDAY 16 MAYBD

  We visit La Bonne Maison overlooking the River Saône. Here, Odile Masquelier has created her beautiful walled garden on a hillside with terraces planted with roses and perennials. Free lunchtime in Lyon. We continue to the private Jardin de l’Hermitage, featuring perennials and roses against a background of mature trees. We note that most of the roses are sourced from the local specialist Roseraie Ducher. Dinner together in the hotel restaurant.

DAY FOUR – FRIDAY 17 MAYBLD

  Depart with luggage. Morning visit to a rose garden in Saint Galmier. After lunch, we continue to Chamboeuf, ancestral home of the Meilland family. Matthias Meilland will meet us and give a presentation of the family history before walking us through the village beautifully planted with nearly 10,000 roses. Following a visit to the family museum, we travel through the countryside north of Lyon to the Beaujolais hills to our hotel, Chateau de Pizay, arriving early evening. Dinner together in the hotel restaurant (each evening)

DAY FIVE – SATURDAY 18 MAYBLD

  We travel through a captivating landscape of villages nestling in the Beaujolais hills, themselves covered with rows of vines interspersed with woodland, arriving at the village of Brouilly. Visit to Château de la Chaize, recently restored with great elegance, its historic formal garden designed by André Le Nôtre. We are invited to visit the cellars of this noted wine estate for tastings. Lunch in a nearby village. Our afternoon visit is to specialist grower Christiane Morizot’s garden, Le Jardin de ma Mère, with its collection of 450 ancient rose varieties.

DAY SIX – SUNDAY 19 MAYBLD

  Heading north we visit Château de Cormatin, created circa 1620 although the garden was redesigned in the late 1700s in the English landscape style. Some trees such as limes and swamp cypress (Taxodium distichum) have survived from that period. The garden was redesigned in the 1990s with parterres, outdoor theatre, maze and vegetable garden. We visit the interiors of the château. Lunch in the village. We continue with a free afternoon to the town of Cluny with its well-known tenth century Benedictine Abbey and medieval architecture, and the delightful Cluny rose garden.

DAY SEVEN – MONDAY 20 MAY BLD

In the rolling hills of Beaujolais, above the village of Ternand, we discover the garden of La Rejonière owned by enthusiastic plantswoman and flower arranger, Cristiana Gouverneyre. Inspirational, the garden is the source of plants for Cristiana’s floral art, and she leads us in a hands-on workshop for floral arrangements. Our afternoon guided visit is to the gardens and interiors of the seventeenth century Château de Fléchères. During extensive restoration of the structure in 1998 a magnificent set of frescoes by the Tuscan artist Pietro Ricchi was uncovered. Return to the hotel for the final dinner together.

DAY EIGHT – TUESDAY 21 MAYB

  After breakfast, departure to the train station at Lyon for the return journey, changing at Lille to go through customs, arriving in London St Pancras late afternoon.