To break the routine, there’s nothing like a vacation in the heart of nature. How about discovering the Vauville Botanical Garden? It’s one of the most beautiful natural sites in the Normandy region. It’s a place rich in history, located near the Château de Vauville.
Before you go, you can book a stay at Camping Utah Beach. It’s just under an hour’s drive from the Vauville Botanical Garden (72 km).
The History of the Garden
The Vauville Botanical Garden is a vast green space spanning 4.5 hectares. It is home to over 1,000 plant species, all originating from the Southern Hemisphere. Let yourself be enchanted by the vast palm groves of Chinese Trachycarpus fortunei, or the unmissable pond with Brazilian Gunnera manicata.
Other wonders are housed on the site, making it one of nature’s most beautiful works. The site also owes its splendor to Guillaume Pellerin. With his wife Cléophée Turckheim, they designed the Vauville Botanical Garden.
The Château de Vauville
Once there, you won’t be able to miss the Château de Vauville. Located in the center of the town, it is clearly visible from the vast Garden. This historic monument was built in the 12th century AD. At the time, it was considered the stronghold of the Bricquebec barony.
The Farm and Ancient Garden Tools
Here again, it’s impossible to miss the Garden’s farm and its ancient tools. The farm houses domestic species characteristic of Normandy: dwarf goats, Shetland sheep, Bayeux pigs, Rouen ducks, and even giant Brahma chickens and their small Serama cousins, etc.
Different bovine species also live on the farm, such as French cows (Bretonne Pie Noir, Normande…) or Anglo-Saxon ones (Jersey from the Isle of Jersey, Galloway from Scotland…). To discover all the splendor of the site, workshops and guided tours are regularly organized.
Garden Tools
In addition to animal species, the farm features a unique collection of garden tools. These are very old objects, dating back to Roman times. They were forged until the 1950s. It’s an original way to discover the history of the site and the rich cultural heritage of the region.
Among the tools in the Vauville Garden are the wooden planter from Roman times and the English lawnmower, which dates from the interwar period, between 1918 and 1939. These are objects that are both simple and effective. Visitors will also learn more about the daily life and working conditions of the laborers and gardeners of that era.
Practical Information about the Vauville Botanical Garden
The Vauville Botanical Garden will welcome the public starting April 2, 2022 (from 2 PM to 6 PM). Prices vary depending on the chosen package. For an adult, expect to pay €9.50 for a visit with a map or audio guide, €13.50 for a visit to the Vauville Botanical Garden and the farm. For children aged 2 and over, access is limited to the farm, at €5.
A specific pricing structure has been set up for groups. Prices start from €9 per person. Finally, remember that the site is just under an hour’s drive from Camping Utah Beach.
Photo credit: Suzelfe