Northern Europe

Europe north of the Alps is extremely rich in worthy gardens, so Monty makes a personal choice of one he's dying to see either the first time or again, representing a broad spectrum. In England, Oxfordshire's Rousham landscape park, all about wide spaces and green, contrasts gloriously with Kent's borders paradise Sissinghurst. In France, the Loire château Andreville's enormous geometrical garden is balanced by Monet's flower beds and waterlily ponds. In Antwerp, landscape architect Jacques Wirtz privately enjoys his 'stock nursery'. In Holland, stadholder and later English king William's royal castle Het Loo's forest-conquered model of Duch husbandry is countered by a modern designer's focus on durability. Finally to Norway's Tromsoö island botanical garden of Alpine plants, a surprisingly abundant summer paradise thanks to the Gulf stream.