If you love the perfume of roses on an early summer’s day and have always promised yourself time to discover more of this vast and varied genus, then this is the tour for you; an unmissable opportunity to stroll from rose to rose discussing the merits of under-planting, mulching, pruning, budding, training, and even ‘the name of the rose’ in the company of a great rose enthusiast & expert. We will stay one night at Hôtel Les Pléiades, in the village of Barbizon before travelling down to the Loire to Hôtel Le Choiseul, Amboise. Both hotels offer good food and hospitality: dinners with local wines and bed & breakfast all included. Michael Marriott is senior rosarian of David Austin Roses and is one of the world’s most esteemed rose experts; Maïté Delmas has over thirty years’ experience of managing plant collections (including roses) gained at Kew, Bordeaux and Paris Botanic Gardens. Maïté has worked with Boxwood for many years and is a well-respected tour leader familiar to many of our travellers.
Hôtel Les Pleiades Hôtel & Spa is located in Barbizon, just 5.6 miles from Château de Fontainebleau and 8.7 miles from Melun. The hotel offers a wellness centre proposing massage treatments, a hammam, as well as an outdoor pool and a heated indoor pool. Free WiFi is available throughout.
Located in Amboise on the banks of the river, Hôtel Le Choiseul is composed of 3 18th-century residences. Rooms have a view over the gardens or the Loire River and free Wi-Fi access.