Secret garden, an undiscovered French garden near the Champagne Trail
Have an unforgettable couple’s break learning the secrets of the extraordinary floral oasis created by French artist Françoise Radet-Mannerkorpi – then relaxing over a glass of local champagne.
Overlooked by the 13th-century church in the pretty village of Brécy, the Clos Joli is perfect for a complete change of scene. Here you can meet up with a septuagenarian Surrealist painter and photographer who began gardening on a Finnish island and loves sharing her passion for her greatest artistic project –one to which she has devoted 20 years.
Each season has its own charm. But while spring and summer steal the limelight, Françoise’s favourite season is autumn – its light, she says, is the perfect time to view this garden with its abundant fruit trees, dotted by classic and modern statuary.
After she’s talked you around the garden, sit in one of the alcoves or at one of the wrought-iron tables on the lawn to soak in the views, or wander the secret pathways and hidden nooks and crannies at your leisure.
Then stroll down to Brécy’s unpretentious Restaurant de la Vallée, for regional cooking and a glass of locally produced champagne. Alternatively, the nearby Chateau de Fère has a gastronomic restaurant with artworks of its own – based on the fables of local writer Jean de Fontaine – plus a ruined medieval castle to amble around.
