Gerberoy

Although Gerberoy has no ‘sights’ as such (leaving you free to soak up the atmosphere, browse one of the tiny art galleries and relax in a tea-room or country bistro), don’t miss a tour of Le Jardin des Ifs, listed as a Jardin Remarquable for being one of the beautiful gardens in all of France and because the rarity of its yew trees. The jury welcomed the gardens into its list of around only 400 gardens across France due to the sustained work needed over the course of centuries to create such a stunning result. Symmetrically conceived, decorated with topiary and boasting an enclosed rose garden, the ‘Garden of Yews’ is typical of the classical style of Olivier de Serres (1539–1619), a favourite of Henri IV. 

 

It also has an organic and sustainable permaculture kitchen garden that provides many of the vegetables, aromatic herbs and flowers used in the atmospheric on-site restaurant with its incredible and creative cuisine. Come here to feast on the likes of farm pork marinaded with honey and rosemary, served with roasted vegetables, and feuilleté with rollot, the favourite cheese of Louis XIV. The restaurant at the Jardin des Ifs is the perfect spot for spending time together and enjoying a little self-indulgence in a way that encapsulates that famous French art de vivre!

 

Just a stone's throw from the Jardin des Ifs, an other restaurant to discover. Try Hauts-de-France’s famous roses in gastronomic form – try Le P’tit Gerberoy, a dessert of fromage frais with candied roses, served in the Jardins du Vidamé bistro/tea-room.

 

At least 1,000 years old, Gerberoy is a remarkable survivor of the turbulent past of Northern France. An important Norman stronghold due to its elevated position, it survived both the French Revolution and World War I. That said, three large fires shrank it dramatically – despite technically being a town (one of the smallest in all France), its population numbers only 115, including those with holiday homes.

 

This wonderfully French village is one of those places tailor-made for ambling around at your own pace, with winding streets lined by colourful rose bushes growing up the walls of medieval houses and in every nook and cranny. Noteworthy places are the 11th-century church, another garden to visit – the Italianate Jardins Henri le Sidaner, founded by the intimist painter and also filled with roses – and the ramparts walk circling the village, with views over Normandy. Those with more time can also tackle the 33-kilometre Boucle des Deux Châteaux walking/mountain-biking trail through local countryside and villages.

 

 

As well as inspiring a famous song that figured on the Downton Abbey soundtrack, the roses from this region feature in local cuisine, including the cheese made with roses that you can pick up in the market in the vibrant city of Amiens.

Gerberoy is perhaps best known for its Rose Festival on the third Sunday of every June, with floral decorations and food. It’s part-organised by Rosemary Brown, a British writer who is also a founding member of the Clos Gerberoy vineyard, helped restore the Sidaner gardens, and is a member of the June music festival Les Moments Musicaux de Gerberoy.  

An hour from Gerberoy, in the Somme, lies the medieval Château de Rambures with another very fine rose garden. Also labelled a Jardin Remarquable and highly recommended among France tourist attractions, it contains around 2,500 rose bushes representing more than 390 varieties, as well as a medieval-style jardin des simples of medicinal plants and an arboretum of about 30 noteworthy trees, including an ancient white mulberry tree and a giant sequoia.

 

20 Rue du Logis du Roy

F-60380 Gerberoy

Tel: + 33 3 44 46 32 20

 

 

3 Impasse du Vidame

F- 60380 Gerberoy

Tel: +33 7 66 20 51 41

 

8, rue du Château 

F-80140 Rambures 

Tel: + 33 3 22 25 10 93

 

Les Chambres de l'Abbaye (B&B – sharing diner)

2 Rue Michel Greuet

F-60850 Saint-Germer-de-Fly

Tel: + 33 3 44 81 98 38

 

Jardins des Ifs Tea room