Historic gardens
CATALONIA
The following links give an example of the historic gardens in Catalonia regarded as national heritage assets.
In Catalonia Act 9/1993, of 30th September 1993 on Catalan Cultural Heritage, has established the designation of BCIN (National Asset of Cultural Interest), which also cover the category of “Historic Garden”. Apart the assets listed as a Cultural Asset of National Interest (BCIN), there is the classification of Cultural Asset of Local Interest (BCIL) which includes other assets which, despite their importance, do not meet all the criteria to be classified as being of National Interest. The following list includes spaces classified under such labels and also several gardens which, despite its importance, do not have the same protection.
Finally, it is worth remembering that we have only featured gardens with an active website, so this criterion inevitably excludes other historical gardens or collections of great interest that cannot be viewed on a website.
Catalonia
Website of the Badalona Town Council containing a section for the Department of the Environment which features the parks and gardens. There is a link to a list of trees in the park. The park is in Romantic style with sweet-smelling flowers and various water features.
This website, managed by the Parks and Gardens Area of the Barcelona City Council, contains an exhaustive description and a wide photo gallery. The origins of this garden can be traced up to the amusement park which operated in the place until the end of the 1920s. Nicolau M. Rubió i Tudurí, then director of Barcelona's Parks department, undertook its restoration and adaptation as a public park, modelled after the Anglo-Saxon parks.
Website of the Lleida City Council with a brief description of the city's natural areas. This is an urban park that was built between the 19th and 20th centuries and is divided into French and Romantic English style gardens over woodland. It also has a glasshouse where special events are held, and the so-called Font de la Sirena (mermaid's fountain).
This website, managed by the Parks and Gardens Area of the Barcelona City Council, contains an exhaustive description and a wide photo gallery. This garden was created around the manor house of Doctor Josep Castelló. Despite its intimacy and quietness, it treasures an impressive array of species and specimens, some of them of enormous proportions.
Website of the Caixa Foundation containing very detailed information. The origins of the castle and garden go back to 1927, when the Woevodsky family decided to move to this idyllic spot on the Costa Brava and were fortunate enough to have the English aristocrat and decorator Dorothy Webster as their landscape gardener. The gardens lie on a breathtaking promontory on the Costa Brava which allows a huge variety of Mediterranean, exotic, tropical and subtropical flora to flourish. The gardens were declared a BCIL in 1972.
A tiny gem among the gardens of Barcelona, nestles in the hollows of two disused quarry pits in the Foixarda sector of Montjuïc, behind the Museu Nacional d'Art de Catalunya (National Art Museum of Catalonia, MNAC).
This website, managed by the Fundació Carl Faust, contains a lot of information and a virtual tour to the gardens. It explains the flora of the three different climatic zones that make up the garden. The website contains also data from its research centre of molecular biology, from its activity in wildlife biodiversity conservation and from a lot of links related to botany. The botanical garden was created in 1921 for the German businessman Carl Faust, and since 1951 the private founfation it's the owner of the garden. It is situated in the firsts cliffs of Costa Brava and, in an extension of 4ha, it has approximately 3000 species, most of them exotic. In 1995 it has been catalogued as a BCIN in the Historic Garden category and is considered as one of the most important gardens in Europe in the landscape perspective.
Municipal website of the Tourist Board of the Banyoles Town Council containing tourism-related information. The pesqueres are little lakeside buildings dating from the 19th century which were built by the bourgeoisie so they could fish from the edge of Lake Banyoles. Around these littlebuildings lie the gardens which were listed as BCIN under the category of Historic Garden in 1997.
Website of the La Pobla de Lillet Town Council containing basic information. The gardens were initially conceived by Antoni Gaudí and built later on by some of the labourers who had worked on Parc Güell. It has some very unusual features such as the numerous railings, floral parterres with pottery trencadís (brittle) ornamentation, electric lighting, an artificial waterfall, pots and columns.
Website of the Department of Parks and Gardens of the Barcelona City Council containing an extensive description and collection of photos. This classical-style garden is a good example of the noble gardens created by the Catalan aristocracy towards the end of the 19th century. With its lush vegetation and plenty of hundred-year-old trees and palm trees, it still treasures several remarkable spots, such as the parterres de broderie of the main terrace, the cascade or the round stone pond that can be found before the woods.
Website of the Department of Parks and Gardens of the Barcelona City Council containing an extensive description and collection of photos. The gardens, featuring a fountain, lake, gazebo and sculptures, are the result of the involvement of architect Nicolau M. Rubió i Tudurí. The main building dates from 1919. The gardens are listed as BCIL under the category of Historic Garden.
Website of the Department of Parks and Gardens of the Barcelona City Council containing an extensive description and collection of photos. The site focuses on the walled Romantic garden in the University grounds which was initially designed as a botanical garden. It is listed as BCIL under the category of Historic Garden.
Website of Lloret de Mar containing detailed tourism-related information. This garden is in the Noucentista style of 1919 and is attributed to Nicolau Rubió i Tudurí. It lies in an exceptional position on top of a cliff and is structured in a series of terraces, stairways and walkways. This gardens are listed as a BCIN under the category of Historic Garden.
Website of the Department of Parks and Gardens of the Barcelona City Council containing an extensive description and collection of photos. The planning of the palace and gardens, by architect August Font, was completed in 1895 but they were not opened to the public until 1999. The gardens are laid out in a geometrical pattern, structured over successive terraces with parterres, walkways and ponds. Notable features include the tall palm trees, sweeping magnolias and enormous Indian chestnuts.
Website of the Department of Parks and Gardens of the Barcelona City Council containing an extensive description and collection of photos. The palace and the adjoining gardens were donated to the city in 1921 by the mayor at the time, Joan Antoni Güell. The original idea was to build a residence for the Royal family. Nicolau M. Rubió i Tudurí, then director of Barcelona's Parks and Gardens department, was responsible for the transformation of the existing farmlands into the gardens that we can admire today.
The website of the Sant Feliu de Llobregat Town Council, containing basic records and a link to photos. Palau Falguera and its gardens date back to the 17th century when Jaume Falguera built a huge palace with gardens reaching as far as the River Llobregat.
Website of the Department of Parks and Gardens of the Barcelona City Council containing an extensive description and collection of photos. The Laribal gardens were the original nucleus of the Park of Montjuïc and occupy the original estate of Josep de Laribal, whose gardens were in the Romantic style so characteristic of the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries. The gardens were opened in 1922; they cover 3 hectares and are listed as BCIL in the Historic Garden category.
Basic information on the parks in the Metropolitan Area of Barcelona. Information on the park is basic but there are various links to a guide and map. It is very much a public, urban park and boasts a palm-lined walkway.
Basic information on the parks in the Metropolitan Area of Barcelona. There is a link to a full guide in PDF. A major feature of the park is the steep slopes and terraces that make it so unique.
Basic information on the parks in the Metropolitan Area of Barcelona. This garden originally formed part of an old summer residence dating from the mid-1800s which still has some original features. Its lake is the most popular and characteristic feature.
Website of the Department of Parks and Gardens of the Barcelona City Council containing an extensive description and collection of photos. The Ciutadella Park has been listed as a cultural good since 1952 and is the only garden in the city to have this category. It was planned in 1872 by master builder Josep Fontseré and since the end of the 19th century it has been one of the most important green zones in the city. It occupies over 17 hectares, 31 if you include the Zoo.
The website of the Costa Brava Tourist Board contains a section dedicated to nature-orientated tourism. Girona city's Devesa park was established at the beginning of the 19th century as a recreational area for the enjoyment of the wealthy people. It is one of the largest urban parks in Catalonia and covers 40 hectares, of which nine are walkways shaded by plane trees. Most of the trees are over 150 years old and many now exceed 50 metres in height. It was declared a cultural good in 1943 which makes it the oldest listed Historic Garden in Catalonia.
Website of the Metropolitan Area of Barcelona with basic information on the city parks. This garden dating from the end of the 19th century and featuring grottoes and caves. The map gives the opening hours and how to get there by public transport or car.
Website of the Department of Parks and Gardens of the Barcelona City Council containing an extensive description and collection of photos. The park was planned by Jean-Claude Nicolas Forestier in collaboration with Nicolau M. Rubió i Tudurí el 1916. The city is able to enjoy this park thanks to the land reserves set aside at the beginning of the 20th century. The estate faces out to sea and in 1910 became municipal property. It currently covers an area of 16 hectares.
Website of the Department of Parks and Gardens of the Barcelona City Council containing an extensive description and collection of photos. This 18th century neoclassical garden, the oldest in the city of Barcelona, was originally designed in Italian style. In 1970 the city council took control over the place, which was reopened one year later as a public park. In 1994 a first major restoration was carried out.
Website of the Olot Town Council containing basic information on the parks and natural spots in the municipality. This park was originally a private garden and has formed part of the town's heritage since 1943. It was conceived in a Romantic and picturesque style and has features of English gardens and some wooded areas of great botanical interest.
The park is an excellent example of a 19th century garden created by Josep Fontserè i Mestres, who was also responsible for the planning of the Ciutadella Park in Barcelona. The most interesting features of this 14-hectare park are the uniquely colonial style of the house and the large lake with its islets, bridges and gazebo.
Website of the Department of Parks and Gardens of the Barcelona City Council containing an extensive description and collection of photos. Park Güell was planned by Antoni Gaudí and built between 1900 and 1914. Initially it was designed as a garden-city residential estate of private houses, but the project was not successful, the park was taken over by the city council and in 1923 it was opened as a public park. The park was listed as a cultural good in 1969. In 1984 was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Map of the Historic Gardens of Catalonia
SPAIN
The following links give an example of the historic gardens in Spain regarded as national heritage assets.
In Spain Act 16/1985, of 25th June 1985 on Spanish Cultural Heritage, has established the designation of BIC (Asset of Cultural Interest), which also cover the category of "Historic Garden". The following list includes spaces classified under such labels and also several gardens which, despite its importance, do not have the same protection.
Finally, it is worth remembering that we have only featured gardens with an active website, so this criterion inevitably excludes other historical gardens or collections of great interest that cannot be viewed on a website.
Spain
Andalusia
Website of the Ronda Town Council containing basic information for visitors. The Palace of the Rey Moro and its gardens were declared a BIC in 1943. They are laid out on terraces and water is a constant feature in the fountains and channels and along the walkways lined with characteristic Arab mosaics.
Detailed information, photos and details on the species found there. The botanical garden was created during the second third of the 19th century and was listed as a BIC under the category of historic and artistic garden in 1943. The garden contains some of the finest examples of flora from the hottest regions of the planet to be found in Spain.
Website of the Granada City Council containing detailed historical information. The garden features mixed styles, though is of Islamic origin, and offers sensational views over the city. It was listed as BIC under the category of Historic Garden in 1943.
Website of the private foundation of the Dukedom of Medinaceli, which manages the property and its gardens, containing basic information. The gardens were listed as a national heritage site in 1982. They have a geometric layout and are criss-crossed by a network of pathways that border each of the gardens.
Website of the Cordoba City Council containing detailed information on the monuments and gardens in the city. The Moratalla Palace gardens can be dated back to the Muslim era. The palace gardens follow the Versailles style and were listed as a BIC in 1983.
Website of the Tourist Board of the Alhambra and the Generalife, run by the Department of Culture of the Junta de Andalucía (Andalusian Regional Government), which provides detailed information and offers a virtual tour. This collection of monumental buildings represents the legacy of the Muslim, Renaissance and Romantic eras and was declared a National Monument in 1870. The Arab gardens were protected in 1943 by listing them as a BIC under the category of Historic Garden.
Brief information of the garden and of the 12 patios that belong to the palace. The Rejas de Don Gome palace (or Viana palace) were listed as a BIC in the categories of Historic Monument and Garden in 1983.
The garden's design dates back to the beginning of the 19th century and it was one of the first public parks in the city of Seville. It lies on the banks of the River Guadalquivir.
Private website containing detailed tourism-orientated information on Spain. The gardens were constructed over two very different areas: the Palace garden and the historic garden, where you can find the remains of the former Palace of Buhaira. Orange trees and palms are a major feature. The whole collection is listed as a BIC under the category of Monument.
These gardens are one of the most interesting historical spots in Seville. With their fountains and brick and ceramic benches and little gazebos, they are the embodiment of the typical Andalusian garden.
Website of the Granada City Council containing detailed information and an interactive map showing the location of every tree and its record. The gardens were laid throughout the 19th century with successive reforms and enlargements along the banks of the River Genil. They are listed as a BIC under the category of Historic Garden.
Basic tourism-related information on the province of Cadiz. The origin of this park goes back to the first half of the 19th century when the military governor decided to arrange for a recreational area that would enhance the city.
The María Luisa park is Seville's landmark park, reminiscent of the Romantic style yet clearly of Andalusian design. Its creator was the French landscaper J.C.N. Forestier who designed it for the Ibero-American Exposition in 1929. It is listed as a BIC under the category of Historic Garden.
Basic tourism-related information on the province of Cadiz. The origins of this park date back to the end of the 18th century, when it was a walled enclosure known popularly as the Paseo del Perejil. The definitive design was the creation of Eduardo Genovés who turned it into a 19th century park of great botanical interest with many similarities to the Ciutadella Park in Barcelona. The park was opened in 1892 with the lake and waterfall forming part of the original plans.
Website of the Cervantes Institute containing detailed information on Andalusian gardens, photos and interesting documents on the subject. The presence of gardens in the courtyards of the Andalusian mosques originated with the Mosque of Cordoba. The gardens of the Mosque of Cordoba are regarded as the oldest gardens in Europe and date back to the 8th century. Successive planting over the centuries has enhanced the gardens with huge numbers of orange, cypress, cinnamon and palm trees.
Detailed information and virtual tour. The Royal Alcázars of Seville have evolved considerably over the years and a Board has recently been set up to promote and disseminate information on them. The gardens, also known as the Gardens of Catalina de Ribera, are in Arab-Andalusian style and were listed as a BIC in 2002.
Aragón
Very detailed information and the chance to take a virtual tour. The Monastery was declared a Historic and Artistic National Monument in 1983. The surroundings of the monastery were modified from 1840 onwards with plantations, paths and walkways. The gardens contain lakes, grottoes and other water features. The park has been protected by the designation of Place of Outstanding Beauty since 1945.
Asturias
Detailed information and some interesting photos. A great deal of the current appearance of these gardens is due to the English Vice-Consul in Gijón, who bought the property in 1885. Subsequently he introduced several modifications in a contemporary style but continued to preserve the decorative and ornamental features of the early 20th century.
Detailed information and a very comprehensive photo gallery. This is a huge estate with imposing buildings and gardens. The website includes a descriptive overview of the vegetation and formal aspects of every garden on the estate: one French-inspired garden, another Italianate one, and a third English garden. It also has a Victorian-style wrought iron glasshouse with a main central body and two lateral wings.
This is the largest public park in the city and stands at the centre of Oviedo. Its origin goes back to the 19th century when it was created as a public park by transforming the land around the Convent of St. Francis. It boasts numerous oaks, chestnuts and plane trees.
Balearic Islands
Private website of the gardens and house of Alfabia containing detailed information and photos. The gardens lie in the Sierra of Tramuntana in Majorca in a spot chosen by the Arabian back in the 14th century and along with the house they are very monumental in nature. Of particular note are the water features of Renaissance origin. The garden was listed as a BIC under the category of Historic Garden in 1954.
Private multi-purpose website on the island of Majorca, containing basic information. This garden, lying at the foot of the Sierra de Tramuntana, was declared a BIC under the category of Historic Garden in 1980. It is currently the headquarters of the Natural Parks organization of the Balearic Islands. It is considered to be one of the loveliest gardens on the island of Majorca. Its origin dates back to the time when the island was under Arab dominion.
Canary Islands
Website of the Canarian Institute of Agricultural Research (Canary Islands Government) containing information on the garden. The garden was listed as a BIC in 1994 under the category of Historic Garden. It has an outstanding collection of tropical and subtropical plants of both ornamental and economic value, such as palm trees.
Website of the Cabildo de Lanzarote (Island Council) containing basic tourism-related information. The garden was planned by César Manrique and was built on an old quarry where volcanic ash used to be extracted. It has more than 1,400 species of cactus from around the world.
Website of the Cabildo de Lanzarote (Island Council) containing basic tourism-related information. The garden was designed by César Manrique in 1966. A jameo is the part of the volcanic pipe whose roof has collapsed, forming a circular vent open to the sky. Two orifices like this were the basis for constructing the complex, which houses an auditorium, a restaurant, swimming pools, lakes of crystalline waters and a museum on volcanoes. The garden has been listed as a BIC since 1998 under the category of Historic Garden.
Website of the Tenerife Tourist Board containing basic information. The garden is extremely interesting for the dragon of Icod de los Vinos (Dragon Tree) which has some unique characteristics. In fact, it is the oldest known dragon tree in existence, standing 18 metres high and with more than three hundred main branches. The garden has been listed as a BIC under the category of Historic Garden since 1990.
Castile-Leon
Official website of the Spanish Tourist Board, managed by the Ministry of Industry, Tourism and Trade, containing basic information. The Park was created in the 18th century in an urban area. The current project dates from 1877 and was the creation of Ramon Oliva, the Catalan gardener of the Ciutadella Park in Barcelona. It lies in the city centre and is completely enclosed with numerous gates. It is also worth mentioning the huge bird population in the park, especially doves, pheasants and peacocks.
El Coto de Nuestra Señora del Carmen és un jardí històric pròxim a la Calzada Romana de la Vía de la Plata declarat històric per la Resolució de la Conjería de Cultura i la Junta de Castilla i León del 19 de desembre de 2005; BOE del 21 de gener de 2006. Aquest Coto va ser promogut pel comte de Trespalacios. És un projecte fonamentalment paisatgista de l’arquitecte Tomas Veyrant finalitzat el 1910 i d’influència valenciana.
Private website containing basic information on the municipality and its immediate area. The Renaissance-style gardens belong to the estate known as El Bosque (The Forest), a park built in the 16th century in a landscape with abundant water on the outskirts of the town, with the aim of establishing a wood for private hunting. The gardens feature ancient trees and impressive water features. It was declared a BIC under the category of Historic Garden in 1985.
Website of the Real Sitio de la Granja de San Ildefonso containing detailed information. The palace is the main cornerstone of the royal complex of La Granja de San Ildefonso, though three-quarters of it comprise the gardens, a notable feature of which is the fountains. The website has an interactive map for visiting the complex. This architectural complex is part of Spain's National Heritage.
Galicia
Website of the Xunta de Galicia (Galician Regional Government) containing basic tourism-orientated information. The eight-hectare garden lies at the town centre and is notable for its huge magnolias that are over 130 years old. Other features include stairways, benches, fountains and other ornamental elements, and the Modernist constructions inside it.
Website of Camelia Galicia, the regional branch of the Spanish Camellia Association. This Galician garden has an important collection of camellias. Its origins date back to the 18th century and during the second half of the 19th century the French gardener Martin Dorgambide planned the planting of the garden, the woods and the crop fields. Finally, in 1930, a geometric garden was constructed.
Website of the Soutomaior Town Council containing detailed information and a short virtual tour of the gardens. This is probably the garden with the largest number of camellias in Galicia. The origin of the park and its gardens can be traced to when the Marquises of De La Vega de Armijo set up their summer home in the castle around 1870, though there are chestnuts trees of over 800 years old in the woods.
Website of the Xunta de Galicia (Galician Regional Government) containing basic tourism-orientated information. This large garden of more than 24 hectares is home to the pazo de Quiñones de Leon, currently an archaeological museum and art gallery. The garden is home to some ancient trees and it is divided into different sectors: the entrance, the rose garden, the French garden, the English garden and the woods. It was declared a BIC in 1955 under the category of Historic Garden.
Website of the Xunta de Galicia (Galician Regional Government) containing basic tourism-orientated information. The park was the work of wealthy ‘Indianos' (returnees from the Americas) and is a unique example of their attempt to provide the local population with an "encyclopaedic garden" with the health, educational and cultural resources that were not available at the end of the 19th century. It was declared a BIC under the category of Historic Garden in 1981.
Website of the Xunta de Galicia (Galician Regional Government) containing basic tourism-orientated information. The park was declared a site of cultural and historic interest in 1962, and lies on the banks of the River Umia where it is heavily used by the locals, especially on high days and holidays. The town has also taken advantage of the spa waters which emerge at a temperature of more than 35ºC.
Website of Camelia Galicia, the regional branch of the Spanish Camellia Association. The historic garden is English in style and is characterized by a huge variety of trees and ornamental shrubs. There are also a large number of camellias. The site is known for its scientific work on botanical cataloguing. The pazo is listed as a Historical and Artistic site.
Website of the Xunta de Galicia (Galician Regional Government) containing basic tourism-orientated information. The pazo (mansion house) and its gardens have been declared a Historic and Artistic Monument and are now open to the public. There are two lakes and a little islet in the shape of a boat sculpted from stone.
Website of Camelia Galicia, the regional branch of the Spanish Camellia Association. This garden, which dates back to the 19th century, boasts an outstanding collection of camellias with more than 500 different varieties. It has been declared a Monument of Historical and Artistic Interest.
Website of the Xunta de Galicia (Galician Regional Government) containing basic tourism-orientated information. It was declared a BIC under the category of Historic Garden in 1946. The town to which it belongs was already well known in the 16th century for the vegetables (Padrón peppers) and its gardens. The garden leans towards the French style though from the beginning it was designed to have a botanical/artistic nature.
Website of the Xunta de Galicia (Galician Regional Government) containing basic tourism-orientated information. The garden in question is Romantic in style and was built on one of the city's former defensive outposts. It offers a magnificent view over the river and the city. It was declared a BIC under the category of Historical and Artistic site and as a Historic Garden of cultural interest in 1944.
Website of the Xunta de Galicia (Galician Regional Government) containing basic tourism-orientated information. This historical and artistic complex dates from Baroque and Neoclassical times (the 17th and 18th centuries). There are numerous points of interest in the gardens themselves, from the horticultural beds to the rose gardens, the exotic flowers and the innovative ‘poetry corner' where at the foot of each tree there is a message from an illustrious visitor, mainly poets.
Madrid
Website of the Madrid Tourist Board containing basic information. The gardens were protected in 1934 and feature a host of different elements: monuments, fountains, lakes and grottoes.
Website of the Madrid Tourist Board containing very well laid out basic information geared towards visitors. The gardens of the Royal Palace, with their monumental nature, were landscaped as an English garden with a strong Romantic style Their current appearance is the result of a restoration in 1890 during the reign of Maria Cristina of Hapsburg. They are listed as a BIC under the category of Historic Garden.
Website of the Madrid Tourist Board containing basic information. This historical and artistic garden dates from the 18th century and has been listed since 1934.
Detailed description and numerous images of the different historic gardens and palaces in the town of Aranjuez. These include the Jardín de la Isla, the Jardín del Príncipe and the Jardín de Isabel II, all of which have been listed as BICs under the category of Historic Garden since 1931. The Aranjuez gardens have also been listed by UNESCO as a World Cultural Heritage Site.
Website of Madrid's municipal promotion agency containing detailed, comprehensive information with practical details, history, an interactive map with a visitors' route, and access to a commentary and photos on each of the park's elements. The origins of the Retiro as a garden date back to 1631 when it was opened as a recreational spot for the monarchy. In the park you can see a tree that was planted in 1633. The park is listed as a BIC under the category of Historic Garden.
Website of the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC) containing very detailed information of both an informative and scientific nature. The garden contains collections of plant species from the desert, temperate climates and the tropics, and a hothouse containing tropical and aquatic plants. Since 1942 the garden has been listed as a BIC in two categories, firstly as a Historic Garden for its botanical content, and secondly as a Historical Monument for the building.
The Basque Country
Private website on the town of San Sebastian containing basic information. The park was designed and constructed by Pierre Ducasse as a recreational area for an aristocratic family, which was donated to the city in 1918. Today it is the largest park in San Sebastian and has a central hill with numerous species of trees and flowers and an enclosure with various animals such as peacocks and deers. There is also an enclosure dedicated to environmental education.
Website of the Bilbao Tourist Board (Bilbao City Council) containing basic information and access to a record of the other parks in the city. This Romantic-style park was built in 1907 by architect Ricardo Bastida. The park has been renovated various times, with the addition of new elements each time. The park is currently being enlarged to join up with the Abandoibarra area.
Tourist guide website on the Yahoo portal containing basic information. This is a Romantic-style park dating from the 19th century which was originally conceived as a botanical garden. It contains numerous exotic species from around the world, some of them hundreds of years old. There is also a pavilion dating from 1890 featuring interesting architecture.
Valencian Community
Detailed information, partly geared towards tourism. The garden is famous for its Imperial Palm (more than 160 years old, in the shape of a candelabrum with more than eight arms). This site is also interesting for the huge diversity of palm trees growing here. It was declared a Historic Garden in 1943 and also appears on UNESCO's World Heritage Site list as it represents the living legacy of Al-Andalus in Spain. It has also been declared a National Artistic Garden.
Very detailed and wide-ranging information of historical, botanical and cultural interest. The garden was founded in 1567 and was originally used for the study of medicine. It contains a huge collection of medicinal plants. It is listed as a Historic Garden.
Website of the Valencia City Council (Department of the Environment) containing detailed information. These gardens in Valencia are neoclassical in style. They were declared a BIC under the category of Historic Garden in 1941.
Website of the Penàguila Town Council containing basic tourism-related information. These gardens date from the second half of the 19th century and are in this century style with a maze, a lake and classical sculptures. On the site you can open up an informative leaflet to the garden in PDF for printing.
Website of the Valencia City Council (Department of the Environment) containing detailed information. The gardens are in the area where the city's fortress used to stand. By the 15th century they already housed an important zoological collection and were the precedent of the current Zoo which occupies the same municipal nurseries. Since 1903 the land has been used as a plantation and nursery for trees and also for acclimatizing tropical plants.
Website of the Valencia City Council (Department of the Environment) containing detailed information. The garden has Romantic features and was created to stand alongside a Modernist palace built in 1900. The Valencia City Council started upgrading it in 1976 and it is currently maintained by the Municipal Parks and Unique Gardens Foundation. It was listed as a BIC under the category of Historical Garden in 1982.
Website of the Elche tourist board's with basic information. The municipal park houses the gardens of Colomer, El Real, of the la Mare de Déu i de Baix. Its origin was the allotments dedicated by Nicolau Caro in 1661 to the patron saint of the city, the Mother of God of the Assumption. They were turned into public gardens in 1946.
EUROPE
The following links lead to some of the most emblematic historic gardens in Europe. It is worth remembering that we have only featured gardens that have an active website, so this criterion obviously excludes other gardens or collections of great interest that cannot be visited on the Internet.
Europe
Basic information on the castle and gardens of Löftstad, built in the 17th century. The English-style gardens date from the 19th century and are represented a contrast to the Baroque and Rococo style that was prevalent at the beginning of the 19th century.
UNESCO World Heritage website containing basic information on the whole complex. In southern Moravia there are various castles surrounded by luxurious gardens which form part of what UNESCO has classified as the Cultural Landscape of Lednice-Valtice and is thus regarded as a World Heritage Site.
General basic information on the estate, which includes the palace and gardens. It also features numerous resources, particularly on the many activities carried out there, which include concerts, exhibitions and conferences. The Romantic-style gardens were established between 1740 and 1745 by the count Johan Ludwig Holstein, Chancellor of the government, during the reign of Christian VI.
Historical website containing comprehensive information. It features very detailed information on the palace of Pavlovsk and its parks and gardens, constructed on the orders of Tsar Paul I and lying to the south-east of St. Petersburg.
General information on the Schönbrunn palace and gardens. The Baroque-style gardens are listed as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. The website provides all the information you need to organize a visit. You can also take a virtual tour.
Austria
General information on the estate, particularly the important art collection housed in the palace. The Belvedere palaces and gardens were built in the 18th century as a summer residence for the Prince of Savoy. The architect was Johann Lukas von Hildebrandt. The extensive gardens are regarded as one of the finest examples of Baroque landscaping.
General information and a very attractive interactive map. The park, in late Manierist style, is famous for its fountains, theatres and water-driven figures.
Basic description and the chance to take a virtual tour of the gardens. The gardens were created in 1689 around the Mirabell Palace by Prince-Archbishop Wolf Dietrich.
Belgium
The Enghien municipal website containing basic information. The park lies in the town of Enghien around 30 kilometres from Brussels. Dating from the 17th century, it once belonged to the Arenberg family and is now public property.
Website of the foundation that manages the complex containing general and very comprehensive information on the estate. The Freÿr castle and gardens, lying alongside the River Mosa, are considered to be an exceptional heritage of the Walloon region and have been proposed to become a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.
Basic tourism-orientated information. You can make queries using the interactive map. The neoclassical-style castle dates from 1763 and currently houses a museum.
Very comprehensive general information and the chance to make a virtual tour of the gardens. The Commandery of Alden Biesen was established by the Teutonic Knighthood orders. Today the castle houses the cultural centre of the Flemish community.
General information on the complex with an emphasis on the gardens and botanical aspects. The Hex Castle was built in the 18th century by Count Charles-François de Velbrück, who was a lover of culture in general and nature in particular.
Very detailed information. It also provides information on the educational activities carried out here. The gardens were established between 1758 and 1776 by Charles-Alexis de Montpellier and still retain a large part of their original layout. In the 17th century they were laid out in accordance with the French style but during the 18th century they took on a more Italian and Breton appearance.
Basic information on the complex, which includes a museum-house and gardens. The gardens date from 1924 and were established along with the museum-house in the Art Deco style. Even so, there are various different areas and ambiences, such as a maze garden and a geometric garden. The gardens currently form part of the museum-house and guided tours are available.
Croatia
This website belongs to the agency in charge of managing one of the oldest documented parks in Europe (18th century). The park is protected by both the Law on Protecting and Preserving Natural Resources and as a declared Monument of Architectural Interest in Croatia''s Registry of Cultural Assets.
France
Website containing basic information. The gardens have a long history behind them.
General information on the castle and its gardens (architectural and artistic information on the castle, a virtual tour, and the activities organized there), often specifically for different types of visitor. The information on the gardens is particularly detailed.
Basic information on the estate which includes the palace and gardens. It contains plenty of photos and a large section of links to historical gardens in France, Spain and Italy. The complex includes the castle and the interesting Renaissance gardens of Ambleville.
Information on the Castle of Merville and its park and gardens. Features a 3D tour of the maze.
General information on the castle and its gardens (history, art collection, and the very interesting educational programme available to schools). The whole estate has been granted World Heritage Site status by UNESCO.
Website containing detailed information. The gardens cover some 25 hectares and stand right next to the Louvre and the Place de la Concorde at the heart of Paris. They are currently the most frequently-visited gardens by Parisian society. There are two buildings: the Orangerie and the Jeu de Paume, which now houses a museum.
General basic information. It includes interactive tours, press clippings and a link to the Ecole du Paysage (Landscaping School) which runs various courses. The palace and gardens were created at the orders of Louis XIV. They were originally established in the shape of a cross to protect the sculptures, facilitate more exhibitions and connect the different gardens by numerous walkways and tunnels.
Website of the Association of Parks and Gardens of the Central Region, with descriptions and basic information on the main historic gardens in the Val de Loire, Berry and Orléans regions.
General information with a particular emphasis on the gardens and their flora. This estate is managed by the Claude Monet Foundation; the artist once lived in the town. It includes the Water Gardens, of Japanese inspiration, and the French-style Clos Normand.
Basic information for planning a visit with an interactive map featuring the main points of interest. The Park of Saint Cloud stands at the gateway to Paris and has 460 hectares of gardens and woods for visitors to enjoy.
Basic information from which you can access a description and various panoramic views of the different parks and gardens making up this space. The estate comprises the castle and park of Chantilly.
General information on the castle and its gardens (virtual tour, photos and other activities). The Palace of Vaux-le-Vicomte is notable for its luxurious 17th century gardens. The gardens, which surround the palace, cover an area of 3 km2 which extends to 40 hectares if you include the surrounding woodlands.
Germany
Website of Garden Holidays Worldwide (a travel brochure featuring the most outstanding gardens in the world). These gardens surround the Castle of Wasserburg which lies to the west of Bocholt on the Dutch border. The combination of vegetation and lagoons is particularly attractive. The fortification currently houses a museum.
Informative tourist website containing basic information. This Baroque style garden was created at the instigation of Count Cristoph von Wackerbarth in 1719, following the design of J.C. Knoffel. The gardens call on French and Italian inspiration and represent the golden years of Saxon culture during the 18th century. They are used for recreational purposes, mainly for staging events.
Website of Garden Holidays Worldwide (a travel brochure featuring the most outstanding gardens in the world). A series of parks and gardens built following the French Baroque style at the end of the 18th century, lying to the west of the German capital. After the Second World War, the damaged part of the gardens was restored.
UNESCO world heritage website. This baroque palace and its gardens have been declared a World Heritage Site. The complex was built by an international team of architects, painters and sculptors on the orders of Prince Johann Philipp Franz von Schönborn and Friedrich Karl von Schönborn.
Basic tourism-related information. The contents are very comprehensive and offer information on visiting and getting to know the history of this spot. The gardens were created in Munich in 1789 with the intention of providing a public park, although a private hunting section was reserved along the River Isar. The gardens are vast and put to good use by the general public.
This website contains basic information on the parks of the Bavarian region. Fantasi Palace is packed with varied gardens, designed according to different historical periods, starting from the 18th century. During the 19th century, many new elements were added. In 2000 a historical museum of garden design was also opened.
Website containing basic tourism-related information. The gardens have been classified as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. The website provides information on all the elements of the estate: the Garden Realm, the Mosigkau Palace and its park, the Landscape Garden Großkuehnau, the Luisium Palace and its park, the Woerlitz park and the Oranienbaum Palace, also with its own park.
Detailed information mainly geared towards tourism. There are only a few archaeological remains of the original garden, which dates from 1615 and was destroyed by successive wars. There is still a book by the designer of the gardens which is how we know what they were like originally. The gardens and the castle are open to visitors.
Website of the Hanover region containing very detailed information. The Royal Gardens are the venue for festivals, exhibitions and other activities. Notable features include a museum and a combination of different garden styles (French, English and botanical).
Detailed information and extensive profile of the topic. The garden dates from the 19th century and was built around a Baroque palace from 1740. The estate stands on an island in Lake Constance. The gardens are open to visitors and the very comprehensive website has all the information you need. The complex is used for holding all kinds of cultural activities and for disseminating information on nature.
Basic tourism-related information. The park's avenue was built in 1655 and runs for some 2.300 metres. The park was created in the 19th century and still retains much of the original design and structure. It has more than 300 endemic and exotic species of flora. It currently houses a theatre, a museum and a hotel, amongst other facilities.
UNESCO world heritage website. The park, standing between Germany and Poland along the River Neisse, is listed as a World Heritage Site. It is an exceptional example of European landscaping.
Basic information on the complex, geared towards visitors. This Baroque palace dating from 1676 was built in honour of Prince Johann Georg III and was used as a holiday residence for the court of Dresden and as somewhere to hold celebrations. After the Second World War it was turned into a social and cultural park under the German Democratic Republic. It was finally rebuilt in 1992.
Basic tourism-related information. The park lies to the south-west of the country and was designed by one of the finest German landscapers of the 19th century, Fürst Pückler. The sculptures and water features (lakes, waterfalls and ponds) are particularly noteworthy.
Website containing basic information and photos. The gardens were built in 1745, inspired by certain excerpts from Homer's Odyssey. A particular feature is the inclusion of certain natural stone features such as caves and grottoes.
Website of the parks in the region of Bavaria, containing basic information. The estate was built between the 17th and 19th centuries as the summer residence of the Kings of Bavaria. The current physiognomy of the gardens dates from the start of the 18th century, when the court architect Josef Effner designed a canal, gardens and an extensive forest, giving the whole complex a Baroque style.
The park was created in 1780 around the Castle of Pillnitz. Today its botanical and scenic value is just as important as its historic interest.
Italy
Website containing a selection of the main historic sites in Rome. It contains basic information on the gardens and a number of photos. The Pincio gardens were created on one of the city's hills and turned into a public park on the orders of Napoleon between 1811 and 1814. There are various monuments distributed around the gardens.
Website containing general information on Rome with a special section on the Vatican gardens. There is also information on the historical evolution of the Vatican gardens and the influence of each Pope on them. The gardens are characterized by their wide variety of species.
Website of the Bardini e Peyron Monumental Parks Foundation containing detailed information. The Giardino Bardini comprises three estates with different gardens: a first garden featuring a monumental baroque staircase; a second one with an English-style wood, and a third with a horticultural sector and flowers.
Website on gardens and gardening in Italy. Containing basic information and photos. These gardens surround the Pitti Palace (Florence) and perfectly embody the classical Italian garden.
Detailed information focusing on botanical aspects and wildlife. The Monza Park is the largest walled city park in Europe with a perimeter of 14 kilometres, and serves as an important "green lung" for the city. It was established at the beginning of the 19th century following the model of the great classic French gardens, and today plays host to numerous sporting and leisure activities.
Official website of the Italian Ministry for Heritage and Culture. The different sections of the website are quite mixed up and make the consult difficult, but it has a lot of information and images of the Palace and the Gardens of Caserta. King Charles III of Spain, in the second half of s.XVIII, iniciated its construction. Both the Palace and the Gardens has been granted World Heritage Site status by UNESCO.
Website with a small selection of gardens and monumental spaces, containing basic information. These gardens have a unique nature thanks to the spectacular blend of nature and art. There are numerous sculptures associated with natural elements such as ponds and caves.
Detailed information on Villa Adriana, its origin and historic evolution, architectonic and artistic description and many photos.
Detailed information on this series of heterogeneous spaces and the activities carried out there. This spot, at the centre of Rome, has enormous historical and environmental value. Amongst other things it is famous for its parks and gardens.
Basic information as well as complementary material such as links and bibliographical references. The Villa d'Este is one of the most outstanding italian gardens and houses a host of fountains, halos, caves and water features. The estate also has some important archaeological remains, such as those at Villa Adriana, and is listed by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site.
Detailed information on the villa and gardens. The gardens, which embody the best characteristics of classic Italian garden design, are notable for the way they have been adapted to the irregular terrain and the excellent use of limited space.
Website with a small selection of gardens and monumental spaces, containing basic information. The gardens are Renaissance in style and are laid out beside a hill along a water course. The Catena d'Aqua (water chain) and the central parterre, also a water feature, are very interesting.
Netherlands
Very detailed information with a particular emphasis on the gardens and their different ambiences. The gardens are laid out in formal geometric style and extend around the castle, which was built in 1674. The most recent remodelling of the gardens was in 1988. There is a large glasshouse containing tropical plants.
Basic information on the complex, which includes a palace and gardens. The gardens, created in 1705, were remodelled following the symmetrical patterns typical of the 18th century. The castle is surrounded by water. The whole estate is a fine example of the aristocratic homes of the 17th and 18th centuries.
Basic information with a description of the palace and gardens. On the site you can view the historical evolution of the estate. It also includes an extensive catalogue of photos and information on the different educational activities held there.
Portugal
Website of the Palmasur company with an interesting array of parks and gardens in southern Spain and Portugal, including a brief mention of the palace. The Estufa Fria is a hothouse-type construction erected on an old abandoned quarry which is now used to grow delicate plants from all over the world. It is part of the Eduard VII Park, the largest in Lisbon.
Tourist information website on Portugal which includes a brief mention of the park and some photos. Work on the palace and gardens finished in 1758 and the complex became an excellent example of the Baroque conception of space and lifestyle. The palace and gardens have often been compared to those of Versailles in France. It is currently one of the main venues used by the Portuguese government to host official receptions.
Website of the Palmasur company with an interesting collection of parks and gardens in southern Spain and Portugal, including a brief mention of this spot. Montserrate is a 19th century palace with a marked Romantic style. It is a little Romantic gem with oriental touches.
Tourist information website on Portugal which includes a brief mention of the park and some photos. The park, created in 1940 for private use, was opened to the public in 1987 and holds more than 4.000 examples of woody plants featuring over 200 species and varieties. It is currently an important site for education and raising society's awareness of the importance of safeguarding our natural heritage.
Russia
Historical website containing very comprehensive information and featuring a description of the 12 imperial parks of the city of Tsarskoe Selo.
General tourist information on St. Petersburg, contains a detailed and very well-illustrated description of Peterhof Park.
Sweden
Website containing information on Stockholm. The Woodland Cemetery of Stockholm, a World Heritage Site since 1994, was designed by the architects Asplund and Lewerentz. It boasts a landscape of tremendous cultural value where natural elements are combined harmoniously with different funerary monuments.
United Kingdom
Website containing detailed information. The origin of these gardens dates back to the 18th century, though their most glorious period was in the 19th century when even Tsar Alexander I of Russia visited them. The gardens are laid out around Alnwick Castle.
Detailed information on the estate including the palace and adjacent gardens. There is an extensive photo gallery as well as a panoramic view. The gardens were built in 1598 by Sir Stephen Borde.
Detailed information on the residence of the Duke of Buccleuch, which is famous for its architecture and gardens. The website contains a variety of information, most notably a virtual tour of the gardens, and a section with links to other historic gardens and places of interest in the United Kingdom.
General information website containing well-illustrated information. It includes very detailed information on each garden as well as other resources such as the legends and literature associated with each spot. The gardens were built at different periods during the history of Cawdor Castle.
Detailed information on the gardens, which have been declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO and are one of the most frequently-visited properties of the National Trust.
Website featuring the main gardens, parks and floral collections of the Argyll region. It contains basic information.
Detailed information and a virtual tour. Hampton Court is a 15th century castle that has been completely restored. The gardens are spectacular and have recently been given national recognition.
The website contains a great deal of information on the history and characteristics of the gardens, a virtual tour of its most important sights, and information on the activities carried out there during the year. The 17th century gardens lie in Taunton and were designed by Sir Edward Lutyens.
Very detailed information on the Royal Parks of London. With its 142 hectares, Hyde Park is one of the most important historic parks in London. It was originally a wood reserved for Royal hunting, but in 1637 it was opened to the public. Since then, it has been used to host numerous events and recreational and leisure activities for the citizens of London.
Website containing detailed information. The origin of this spot on the Isle of Bute is linked to the Stuart family who were related to the former Kings of Scotland. The site features various enormously valuable gardens such as the Rock Garden and the Wee Garden.
Basic tourism-related information. Peto Garden is an Italian-style garden in Bradford-on-Avon. It was designed by the landscape artist Harold A. Peto.
Very detailed information on the Royal Parks of London. St. James' Park is the oldest royal park in London and is surrounded by three palaces: Westminster Palace, now the seat of Parliament; St. James' Palace James; and Buckingham Palace, the most well-known. The current appearance of the park is the result of the far-reaching transformation undertaken by John Nash in a Romantic style at the beginning of the 19th century.
Website of the National Trust containing detailed information on the parks and other natural spaces belonging to the institution. Stowe gardens are close to Buckingham and are one of the most exquisite examples of 18th century garden landscaping.
Website containing detailed information. It contains information on the restoration work and a very comprehensive photographic record. The original Manor House gardens, dating from 1908, were in a jungle-like state until eighty years later, thanks to the discovery of the original plans, they could be restored.
Zchek Republic
UNESCO world heritage website containing basic information on the whole complex. The gardens and castle of Kroměříž have been declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. This estate stands at the foot of Mount Chriby close to the River Morava. It is one of the best-preserved examples of baroque castles and gardens in Europe.
INTERNATIONAL
The following links lead to some of the most emblematic historic gardens all over the world. It is worth remembering that we have only featured gardens that have an active website, so this criterion obviously excludes other gardens or collections of great interest that cannot be visited on the Internet.
International
Tourist website on Iran containing basic information on the gardens, which are some of the most famous in the country. This space, designed by Shah Abbas I, represents a classical vision of paradise and was created as an oasis, in contrast to the completely arid surroundings of the salt desert.
Tourism-related website on China containing basic information on the gardens and photos. The garden has been granted World Heritage status by UNESCO.
UNESCO world heritage website in which we can find a brief abstract of the palace and garden's characteristics, a virtual view and some interesting links. Taj Mahal is one of the most important buildings in the world.
Australia
Website of the city of Melbourne with a detailed description of its various parks. Carlton Gardens are a spectacular example of a Victorian-style park. A large part of the gardens have remained virtually unchanged since they were redesigned to host the Melbourne Exposition in 1880. They have been declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.
Basic information on the tropical gardens which were created in 1878 and then remodelled in 1930 by Hilda Abbott. They currently cover an area of 1.4 hectares and have been declared the most beautiful gardens in Australia by various state organizations.
Canada
Detailed information on Annapolis Royal Historic Gardens. The gardens were created in the town of Annapolis Royal in the 17th century. They have evolved over the years, bearing witness to the first French settlers in the region and the glory days of the town in the 19th century when it was a leading ship-building community.
Information on the gardens which were instigated in 1904 by Jennie Butchart, and in 2004 were protected by the Canadian government as a Historic Site.
Detailed information and a splendid gallery of photos. The gardens are on Vancouver Island (British Columbia) and were established around Hatley Castle, built at the beginning of the 20th century. They include an Italian garden, a Japanese garden and an extraordinary rose garden. Various events are held here, such as conferences and film screenings, as well as other educational activities, all featured on the website. In 1995 they were declared a National historic site.
Website containing basic information. The garden is situated in a village close to the city of Quebec. It is a very large estate where you can visit an old, traditional house which has been restored with typical period scenes and enjoy the hundred-year-old trees and ancient flora of its gardens.
Detailed information on these gardens, some of whose trees are hundreds of years old, and more than 3,000 species of plants. Huge efforts have been made to ensure successive flowering by combining imported plants with wild and indigenous ones.
China
UNESCO world heritage site website, to which these gardens belong. The summer palace of the Imperial City of Peking (Beijing) was built in 1750, destroyed in the war of 1860, and rebuilt in 1886. It is regarded as a masterpiece of classical Chinese garden style.
Japan
Detailed information on everything you need to visit the complex, the activities held there and the characteristics of the gardens in every season of the year. The Daigoji temple, built on Kamidaigo Mountain, was created by a branch of Japanese Buddhists.
Tourism-related website on Japan containing basic information on the gardens. The temple belongs to the Engakuji school, a branch of Zen Buddhism, and is the second of the five great Zen temples of Kamakura.
Tourism-related website on Japan containing basic information. The temple is also known as the Temple of the Silver Pavilion. It was built by a branch of Zen Buddhists known as Rinzai Zen and was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1994.
Basic information on the estate, comprising four gardens running off the four corners of the main building. These gardens are one of the most representative examples of garden design in the Meiji period (1868-1912). The famous Festival of Ages is held at the complex, and the website gives you all the information you need to visit it.
Website containing detailed information and an interesting philosophical perspective on the composition of the gardens. The temple gardens consist of a rectangular layout covered in white raked sand with fifteen stones, intended to represent the ocean with various islands. Trees and plants have been eliminated from the garden to give it greater simplicity.
Morocco
Detailed information with an emphasis on the flora and scenery. The gardens were created by Jacques Majorelle, a French painter who decided to pursue his career in Marrakech in 1919, and since 1947 they have been open to the public.
Pakistan
Themed website on the Gardens of the Mughal Empire route. These gardens, in the town of Hasan Abdal close to the city of Islamabad and the Buddhist monastery of Taxila, feature a fantastic array of techniques for saving and using water. The gardens have been restored by the Pakistan government.
Themed website on the Gardens of the Mughal Empire route. To the north of the town of Sheikhupura is what used to be a private hunting ground for the local princes known as Hiran Minar. The gardens are laid out around a pavilion and a minaret and feature ponds and fountains.
Themed website on the Gardens of the Mughal Empire route. Shadara is both geographically and strategically important as it is the gateway into Lahore from Kabuli and Kashmir. The Mughal royalty created some very important gardens in this area as another expression of architecture.
Themed website on the Gardens of the Mughal Empire route. Palace from the Mughal era which stood very close to the city of Lahore on the banks of the River Ravi. A channel from the river fed water to the hundreds of fountains, pools and parterres. All these features are laid out on terraces to enable the irrigation system of channels to work. In Mughal times, the landscape in this area must have contrasted sharply with the surrounding area, which at that time was just desert.
Themed website on the Gardens of the Mughal Empire route. These gardens were built in the fortified area of the city of Lahore, which was the political and dynastic centre of the city. The whole complex is listed as Endangered Heritage by UNESCO.
Southafrica
Accurate description of the various elements making up the gardens. The gardens were created in the last century around a mansion known as Brenthurst and are currently the biggest gardens in South Africa. They are made up of different units which together form a harmonious whole.
United States
Website of the city of San Diego with detailed information on Balboa Park, which owes its name to Vasco Núñez de Balboa, recognised as the first European to see the Pacific ocean. Its origins date back to the 19th century. The gardens are now part of a large complex near San Diego Zoo, housing museums, gardens, a zoo, a theatre and many other facilities and activities organized by cultural and recreational associations.
Website containing detailed information. The complex includes the museum-house of Bellingrath.
Website containing information provided by the non-governmental organization Central Park Conservancy. The site hosts an interesting virtual tour. Central Park is one of the most emblematic urban parks in the world, and one of the first major parks to be conceived as an infrastructure for public service. It currently represents a green oasis in the huge urban development that is Manhattan Island.
Very detailed information on these gardens to the south of San Francisco, which have become one of the most interesting early-20th century gardens in the USA.
Tourism-orientated website containing basic information. The park was created in 1870 by John McLaren, a disciple of F. L. Olmsted. Despite its appearance as an urban park, it actually measures 5 kilometres long by 0.8 wide, and has a sand dune ecosystem covered by more than a million trees where bison still roam. The park is thus a huge natural landscape and at the same time a cultural and recreational centre for the city with numerous activities going on there, such as concerts, scientific research, golf courses and horseback riding.
Website containing very detailed information. The Longwood gardens have a historic background and are currently devoted to disseminating the arts and processes of horticulture and gardening to the general public.
Detailed information and a video on the gardens. The Magnolia Plantation was founded in 1676 and is one of the oldest gardens in the United States. It was also the first garden to be given public status, and was already open to the public in 1872. They contain a stunning range of magnolias and other flowers.
Detailed information and a wealth of photographic material. The historic garden of Mansfield (Ohio) was commissioned by the King family to the architect Clarence Mackm in 1926, but in the 1950s it passed into the public domain and the flora was considerably changed. Today it includes various gardens of tremendous artistic and scenic value.
Detailed information on the plants and flowers that can be seen in the different seasons of the year. These Mediterranean-inspired gardens were created around Hearst Castle in the state of California.
Website containing detailed educational, tourist and leisure information. The gardens are laid out around Tryon Palace.
Very detailed information with an emphasis on botanical aspects. For example, you can make interactive consultations on plants. The gardens have a huge flowering area, another area for conserving seeds and plants from around the world, an aquatic garden and a wild garden.