Jacques Garcia, who has given us the Hotel Costes, Fouquet's, La Durée, L'Hôtel des Beaux-Arts, is now offering prestige visits of his exquisitely appointed chateau and gardens at Champ de Bataille. Two hours away from Paris, this 17th century castle, built by a rival of Louis XIV, contains one of the greatest collections of 17th and 18th century furniture and decorative arts in private hands today. More significantly, the restoration of Lenôtre's gardens, such as they were originally conceived, with its bosquets, parterres, bathing pools, allées, terraces, fountains and perspectives, gives Champ de Bataille, an incomparable unity and beauty, that in many ways will never again be equalled. A must-see for the true art connoisseur.

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This 20-acre garden, which has been cultivated for the past half-century by gardening expert Princess Sturdza, overlooks the English Channel at Varengeville. Well protected by a hedge of cypresses, birches and willow trees, this unique garden regroups over 10,000 species, and can be visited year-round by appointment only. In this magical garden, you will find magnolias, camellias, hydrangeas, tree-climbing roses, as well as spectacular rhododendrons and azaleas reaching to the skies. Here, the rarest of plants co-exist alongside the simplest, making this one of the most unique gardens in the world. Another must-see is the garden and park of the Bois des Moutiers —the only English garden created by the landscape artist Gertrude Jekyll. This unique garden, which surrounds a home designed by Sir Edwin Luytens (the only one of its kind in France), can be visited from May until November.

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The great French châteaux were first built during the Renaissance in the lush and fertile Loire Valley, the garden basket of France. You have a wide choice when you travel with French Links Tours:the splendid privately-held Château de Cheverny with its pack of hounds that still go to the hunt; the magnificent gardens of Villandry; the vast Château of Chambord; the Clos Lucé, once the residence Leonardo da Vinci.

You can also visit Blois, known for its splendid architecture and Renaissance art museum, and continue with a tour to Chenonceaux, the castle shared by Diane de Poitiers and Catherine de Médicis. Along the way you'll discover the region's gastronomic specialties, including its fine Anjou, Sancerre and Saumur wines. French Links Tours can organize both day trips and overnight excursions, by chauffeured car or bus.

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Whether you are a gardener, an artist, or a poet, the Loire Valley's private gardens offer something for everyone. At the Château de la Bourdaisière you will be able to discover an estate that has over 450 varieties of organically grown tomatoes at the National Tomato Conservatory, as well as an elegant hotel decorated by Pierre Frey. At Le Chateau du Rivau, its 12 gardens evoke the wonderful stories and legends that literature has provided. Elves, ogres, giants, good fairies and fantastic topiary animals accompany the visitors' steps, making this ideal for visitors of all ages.

Hidden away in a secluded valley crowned by 18 acres of flowering cornflowers and poppies and with sweeping views across the forest of Chinon and the river Indre, the twelve remarkable gardens of La Chatonnière are a carefully guarded secret. The owner, Béatrice de Andia and her award-winning head gardener, Ahmed Azéroual, have combined their skills to realise their vision to create a series of enchanting terraced gardens open to the public. The gardens vary in style and atmosphere; they awaken the senses, evoking feelings of wonder, charm and contemplation. Follow the path and discover the gardens of Abundance, Intelligence, Botanical Sciences, Romance, Luxuriance, the Garden of France, of Fragrance, Silence, Delights, the Vale of Elegance, the Garden of Dance and the Garden of the Senses.

The Château de Valmer, with its striking park and gardens, nestles on the edge of a hillside overlooking the Brenne valley, a tributary of La Loire. The architecture, terraces and bowers are reminiscent of 16th and 17th century gardens. Laid out along two major axes, the gardens follow the natural gradients of the hillside. Their designer has cleverly taken advantage of the slope of a spur between the two valleys. The eight-level terraced garden is one of the most gorgeous in the Loire Valley and well worth the detour.

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For those of you who wish to combine sport with culture, this several-day-long tour cycling the Loire Valley is the ideal way to visit, especially from April through October. Using the town of Amboise as your base, we can arrange a customized three-day tour with minivan transfers where necessary and picnics along the Loire and the Cher. On this program you will be able to have guided visits of Amboise, Blois, Chambord, Cheverny, Chenonceaux, the Clos Lucé, Villandry, the château d'Ussé, also known as the Sleeping Beauty castle, as well as Azay-le-Rideau. This comprehensive program is conducted by a licensed guide and cyclist.

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What could be more unforgettable than a sunset or sunrise balloon expedition over the castles and gardens of the Loire, whether it's Villandry, Chenonceaux, Chambord, or Cheverny? Well, now French Links Tours can arrange that extraordinary experience for groups of up to six guests at your request. Naturally, we arrange for you to meet our accredited balloonist in a private transfer, and once your flight concludes, we arrange for transport back to your hotel.

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Situated just west of Cannes, the Château de La Napoule occupies a magnificent seafront site first settled by the Romans more than 2,000 years ago. Originally erected by the Villeneuve family during the 14th century, the fortress was destroyed and rebuilt eight times before it was transformed into a glass factory in the 19th century. In 1918, the American artist Henry Clews restored the ruined property with his wife, Marie Elsie Whelen Goelet. Two towers, Saracen and Romanesque, were integrated into the walled complex; a turreted gatehouse, tall ramparts and sea-view terraces reflect the Clews' eclectic taste. Both the formal gardens laid out by Marie Clews and Henry Clews' sculptural decor, combining wit and turn-of-the-century sensibility, make the Château de La Napoule, a fascinating excursion into architectural history.

The Villa Ephrussi Rothschild, one of the Côte d'Azur's legendary estates, includes a pink Italianate villa containing the wealth of the owner's collections: 18th century furniture, Savonnerie carpets, Gobelins tapestries, paintings and drawings by Fragonard and Boucher, Sèvres porcelain and 18th century gowns Marie-Antoinette might have worn. Make a day of it, by wandering in the seven landscaped gardens and having lunch in the villa's tea-room.

The Villa Kerylos, a stunning replica of an ancient Greek residence, painstakingly designed and built by the noted Hellenist and archeologist Theodore Reinach. Everything from the mosaics, figurines and pottery to the reconstructed Greek furniture, make this mansion a unique and unforgettable visit.

A tour of the Grands Appartements du Palais in Monte Carlo—the residence of Prince Albert of Monaco—is well worth a visit if you are staying on the French Riviera. A tour of these apartments allows you to see the universe of Grace Kelly and Prince Rainier, including their stellar art and antiques collection, as well as a collection of Napoleonic memorabilia. This tour can be combined with a visit to the royal family's vintage automobile collection that includes the a 1929 Bugatti, winner of the Monaco Grand Prix and the 1956 Silvercloud Rolls-Royce that carried the prince and princess on their wedding day.

Note: All of these villas and palaces can be visited over a two to three-day visit with one of our stellar driver-guides.

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