15 of the world’s most beautiful gardens

It’s officially spring, so take a look at some floral masterpieces from around the globe
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Gardens have long been a source of inspiration for creatives – and it’s not hard to see why.

The vibrant colours offered a brilliant canvas for artists such as Claude Monet, Pierre Bonnard and Emil Nolde.

Monet’s Gardens in France, in particular, are something to behold. Like his paintings, they contain sporadic splashes of colour and remain rather untamed.

Below are the world’s best gardens you can visit this spring.

1. Monet’s Gardens, Giverny, France

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If you visit one garden in your life, let it be this one. Claude Monet’s garden, at the home he lived in in Giverny, France, is, quite literally, like something out of a painting. A quick train ride from Paris, the garden is split into two parts - a flower garden called Clos Normand and a Japanese-inspired water garden.

2. Koishikawa Korakuen Gardens, Tokyo

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This 17th Century garden was created in 1629 by Mito Yorifusa and completed by his son. It incorporates both Chinese and Japanese elements.

3. Kew Gardens, London, UK

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Kew Gardens has long been a Saturday afternoon staple for Londoners but with the Temperate House – the largest Victorian glasshouse in the world – reopening next month, there’s been no better time to visit.

4. Volksgarten, Vienna, Austria

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This garden was laid out by Ludwig Remy in 1821 and is situated on the grounds of Hofburg Palace. It's famous for its rose garden with over 3,000 rose bushes and 200 different cultivars of roses.

5. Longwood Gardens, Pennsylvania, USA

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These gardens cover an impressive 1,077 acres, woodlands and meadows. The gardens came to fruition after Pierre S. du Pont purchased them in 1906 and have been wow-ing visitors ever since.

6. Giardini Botanici Villa Taranto, Piedmont, Italy

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These gardens were established between 1931 and 1940 when a new owner completely transformed the gardens of Villa Taranto to make them the floral oasis they are today.

7. Nong Nooch Tropical Botanical Garden, Pattaya City, Thailand

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These 600-acre gardens were originally purchased with the intention to make a fruit plantation but were instead turned into a wildlife conservation project. They are now divided into nine different sections including the ‘Flower Valley’, ‘French Garden’ and ‘Stonehenge Garden’.

8. Keukenhof Gardens, Lisse, Netherlands

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One of the most famous gardens in the world – and certainly the best spot to catch a glimpse of the Dutch tulips – more than seven million tulips line the winding river of Keukenhof Gardens.

9. Château de Villandry, France

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Located in Villandry in central France, this Chateau is known for its spectacularly manicured gardens. The chateau was purchased in 1906 by Joachim Carvallo who spent a large amount of time curating the extravagant gardens.

10. Arundel Castle Gardens, UK

In the grounds of Arundel Castle you will find these picturesque gardens and each April and May over 60,000 tulips bloom. Better yet, it’s just an hour and a half train ride from London.

11. Las Pozas, Mexico

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Located more than 2,000 feet above sea level, this garden is filled with surrealist structures, created by eccentric English poet Edward James, in a subtropical rainforest. Natural waterfalls are interlaced with pools and the towering structures.

12. Butchart Gardens, Canada

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Located in Canada’s British Columbia district, these gardens receive over a million visitors each year - and for good reason. A designated National Historic Site of Canada they contain over 900 varieties of plants that bloom March through October.

13. Humble Administrator's Garden, China

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These gardens are over a thousand years old and consist of a labyrinthine of connected islands. A bit like a Chinese water village.

14. San Grato Park, Switzerland

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Located above Lake Lugano, you can wander through one of the five themed paths – including the aptly named ‘Fairytale Trail’.

15. Crathes Castle, Scotland

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The walled gardens of this 16th Century Tower House have been perfected over the last four centuries and include an array of stunning florals.

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