Fodor's Expert Review Château de Pesselières

This award-winning “historic” garden is just the spot for those who want to enjoy a long pastoral ramble in a place where you have to guess what century you’re in. From the storybook chateau and the meandering trout stream complete with lily pads (and noisy frogs in springtime) to the long alleys of ancient lindens, wooded paths, and charming formal herb and rose gardens (not to mention the manicured box hedge maze), this is a perfectly poetic introduction to a great French garden. The owners do encourage picnicking, but be sure to bring only what you can take away.