Whether you're seeking an escape from the hustle and bustle of city life or just want someplace quiet to think, gardens provide an oasis of tranquility.
From Norway's Tromsø Arctic-Alpine Botanical Garden — the northernmost botanical garden in the world — to Sigiriya, an ancient rock fortress in Sri Lanka that boasts some of Earth's oldest landscaped gardens, there's a verdant enclave to suit every taste.
Read on to learn about 23 of the most stunning gardens around the world.
SEE ALSO: 16 of the most alien-looking beaches on Earth
FOLLOW US: TRAVEL INSIDER is on Facebook
The Gardens of Versailles in Versailles, France
André Le Nôtre,"king of gardeners and Gardner to the King," was charged with designing the gardens of Versailles in the 1660s.
Thousands of workers helped orchestrate the design, which involved trees imported from various regions of France.
Le Nôtre's plan was so complex that it required that the gardens be replanted about once every 100 years. Louis XVI and Napoleon III each did their part to revitalize the grounds, and most recently they were replanted following a severe storm in 1999.
In total, the gardens span 1,976 acres and are dotted with more than 200,000 trees.
Torre Guinigi in Lucca, Italy
Built in the 14th century by silk merchants, the Torre Guinigi is a 145-foot-tall brick tower topped by a magnificent array of holm oak trees. It was used as a defensive tower during a time when Italy was plagued by raids and violence.
To ascend the tower, you need to climb 230 steps, but the view is worth the effort.
Le Jardin Majorelle in Marrakech, Morocco
Cultivated by Jacques Majorelle, a French painter, this 110,000-square-foot garden of exotic and rare plants is accented by pops of cobalt blue. In fact, he trademarked the color — found on fountains, garden walls, and other features throughout the garden — and named it "Majorelle blue."
It's also known as the "Yves Saint-Laurent garden" because the fashion designer and his partner Pierre Berge bought the property in 1980, saving it from demolition 18 years after Majorelle's death.
See the rest of the story at INSIDER
0 Comments