Normandy Excursion
This event is sold out. Please email nord@tclf.org to be placed on the waitlist.
Join The Cultural Landscape Foundation (TCLF) on an exclusive adventure to explore the rich history of Normandy, France, through its extraordinary sites, châteaux, landscapes, and gardens. Throughout our journey, meet remarkably creative people, see iconic sites, tour some private residential gardens, savor delicious cuisine, and luxuriate in the unique ambiance of this fabled region.
The excursion will start in Giverny at the garden and home of Claude Monet, who lived there from 1883 until his death in 1926. Located on the right bank of the Seine River, just one hour from Paris, Giverny is famous throughout the world thanks to Monet's exuberant water lilies paintings.
As a rare treat, we will be visiting the Château of Mesnil Geoffrey, which is classified as a "monument historique." The château is surrounded by a ten-hectare park in the formal French manner designed by Colinot – one of the nephews of the renowned garden designer André Le Nôtre (whose greatest work, the gardens of the Palace of Versailles, was designed for Louis XIV). The château is also well known for its rose garden which has over 2900 plants representing 2000 different varieties of rose.
Continuing northwest through the region, additional highlights include Château d'Acquigny, the 'colossal' Château du Champ de Bataille, the Jardins de Valériane (ranked sixth favorite garden by the French), and Jardin Le Vasterival, which was lovingly restored by Princess Greta Sturdza for over 50 years (1955-2009).
The Normandy excursion is organized by the Madrid-based firm Around Art. Tour leader and lecturer Sofia Barroso, who organized TCLF's excursions to Madrid (2018), Portugal (2019), and Morocco (2023), is an art collector and president of Around Art, and an advisor to several Spanish art foundations.
Click here for the complete illustrated seventeen-page itinerary, along with information about pricing and registration, and details about trip insurance. Participation is limited to a small number of people and the tour is sold out.