Do you dream of getting away from it all? Of discovering little-known and exotic places? What if we told you that a magnificent estate 1 hour from Paris hides one of the most beautiful Japanese gardens in France? The answer is the Château de Courances in Essonne. A château we told you about a few weeks ago, known for its magical setting surrounded by water. Open to visitors only on weekends until November 2, the estate and its Japanese-inspired garden offer a complete change of scenery to the Land of the Rising Sun… without leaving France.
One of France’s finest Japanese gardens, hidden away in a sublime estate on the outskirts of Paris
Classified as a “Remarkable Garden” since 2013, the Château de Courances is undoubtedly one of the jewels of the Essonne region. Its magnificent 75-hectare estate is an ode to romance and contemplation… Along the way, you’ll find a river, fourteen springs and seventeen remarkable water features. The French gardens are so fabulous, they’re almost like movie sets. No wonder the Count of Monte Cristo was partly filmed here…
But it was the Japanese garden in particular that caught our eye… Designed in the 1930s by Berthe de Ganay, the current owner’s grandmother, nothing was chosen at random. Here, we find species appreciated in this type of green space, such as Japanese maple, but also a more “English” composition, where beds of flowers, hyacinths and tulips bloom in harmony. It’s a very Zen place, cut in the shape of a cloud, to bring lightness and a touch of poetry. As the seasons change, the garden is transformed and adorned with a multitude of colors: from the pastel hues of spring flowers, to the vermilion of autumn leaves….
A feast for the eyes that you can admire until November 2, before the château closes for the winter!
Location : 15, rue du Château 91490
Opening hours : Open Saturday, Sunday and public holidays from 2 pm to 6 pm until November 2, 2025
Price for access to gardens: €11 full price
Price for gardens + guided tour of château: €14 full price