A Fête Des Roses: From Lyon to Beaujolais and Back

9 days | £4995 per person | 6 - 14 June 2026

From Lyon to Beaujolais and Back

Join us for an opportunity to tour the gardens of the Rhone Region of France. If you love the rose gardens, cuisine, wine and culture of France, this is an opportunity to see and experience them with a decided French flair. From renowned public gardens such as the Parc Tête d’Or in Lyon, to private ones including the legendary La Bonne Maison Garden of Odile Masquelier, this tour will cover it all. We will even visit garden and cultural sites such as the village of Cluny, touring Chamboeuf— the ancestral village of the Meilland family— with special guest Matthias Meilland, and also a private workshop at the nursery of Fabien and Florence Ducher. During the garden visits you will have the opportunity to discuss all things rose gardening: under-planting, mulching, pruning, budding, and training with our tour host. Discussions continue over meals together and of course a glass of wine. We will spend the first four nights at the Hotel de l’Abbaye in Lyon and then move to the French countryside of Beaujolais for three nights at the Château de Pizay before returning to Lyon for our last night. Both hotels offer good food and hospitality: dinners with local wines and bed & breakfast all included. We will also often have lunch and dinner at local restaurants.

Day to day Itinerary

Day 1

Arrival day at the Hotel de l’Abbaye in Lyon where we will enjoy a special champagne reception. Dinner is independent this evening, but suggestions will be given on where you can dine together locally.

Day 2

We spend the full day at the legendary Parc Tête d’Or in Lyon where we will visit its three rose gardens. The morning will be spent exploring both the Grande Roseraie Internationale which covers 12 acres and includes more than 16,000 rose bushes and then the International Rose Contest Trial Garden. After a delicious lunch, we finish the day in the Botanical rose garden which traces the history of the rose through its collection of wild and historic rose bushes. We return to the hotel for our first group dinner together.

Day 3

After breakfast we depart for Roseraie Ducher, the home and nursery of Fabien and Florence. It was in 1845 in Lyon that Claude Ducher prepared the first world exhibition dedicated to the ‘Queen of flowers’, since then the legacy has been carried onwards, currently in the capable hands of Florence and Fabien Ducher. Our visit begins with welcome drinks followed by a tour of the nursery, it is here that they produce their organic rose water, something we have opportunity to help make later today. After a group lunch, we return to Roseraie Ducher for a talk on the history of roses in the Ducher family. Return to Hotel de l’Abbaye for an independent dinner.

Day 4

We spend the morning in the private rose garden of Margot, Jardin de l’Hermitage at St Genis de Laval. This exceptional private garden houses some 700 varieties of roses set among hundreds of perennials and is still lovingly cared for and overseen by its founders who will be there to guide us through the garden. We return to Lyon in time for independent lunch and then the afternoon and evening is free for sightseeing and shopping at your own leisure. Consider visiting the Gallo-Roman Museum of Lyon-Fourvière, a large Roman archaeological site with collections of art and pottery on display or simply indulge in the local delicacies nearby cafés and restaurants have on offer. A visit to the covered market is also highly recommended and we will have other recommendations on the day should you wish. Dinner will be independent this evening.

Day 5

We depart our hotel in Lyon after breakfast with our luggage as we are moving hotel this day. Our first stop is the Garden of old roses in Saint Galmier. We will have lunch outside and be joined by Matthias Meilland of the famed Meilland Rose Family and Nursery. After lunch we will take a short ride to Chamboeuf which is the seat of the Meilland Family. Matthias will be our guide through this village planted with close to 10,000 roses. He will also do a presentation on the history of the Meilland family and guide us through the Meilland Family Museum there. After a full day of ‘All Things Meilland’ we depart for an early evening check in to Château de Pizay for the next three nights. Dinner together in the hotel preceded by wine tasting at the hotel’s cellar.

Day 6

After breakfast we have a morning planned of wine and roses. We begin with a garden tour of the quintessentially French gardens of Château de Pizay, our beautiful base for three nights. This formal, romantic garden features grand topiaries depicting a life-size chess game, framed by vibrant seasonal flowerbeds. Guests visiting the garden will also enjoy expansive views over the neighbouring vineyards. We depart the hotel for an included group lunch before visiting Château de la Chaize. The Château is beautifully situated in the Beaujolais rolling hills and dates to 12th century, surrounded by an extensive wine estate. The original château was replaced in the 17th century and André Le Notre (gardener to the king) was entrusted with designing the surrounding gardens. After a tour of the estate and exploration of the wine cellar, followed by tastings, we return to the hotel. An included group dinner is included tonight at the hotel.

Day 7

Today we head to southern Burgundy to the Château de Cormatin. Built from 1606 onwards and surrounded by wide moats we will have a guided visit of the interiors and then extensive gardens with boxwood parterres, green theatre, potager and a maze. We will have lunch in nearby village and then in the afternoon will spend time in the small town of Cluny famous for its tenth century Benedictine Abbey, medieval architecture, rounded pink tile roofing, winding cobbled streets, Romanesque houses and the famed Cluny rose garden – 350 varieties of mostly old roses and some modern. Dinner is back at the hotel this evening.

Day 8

After breakfast we depart with luggage as our day will finish back at the Hotel de l’Abbaye in Lyon. The morning will be spent at the hillside gardens of La Rejonière created and planted by Cristiana Gouverneyre for her floral artist workshops. It is a sustainable garden of all kinds of plants including roses grown for creating floral art. We will have a hands-on workshop led by Cristiana Gouverneyre so you can personally try your hand at the art form of floral arranging. After lunch nearby we head back to Lyon for our final garden, which is the legendary garden of Odile Masquelier, La Bonne Maison overlooking the river Saone in Lyon. A stunning hillside garden with terraces beautifully planted with roses and perennials. The roses here are allowed to grow naturally and ramble and scramble throughout the gardens. Our final dinner will be in a restaurant nearby to the hotel.

Day 9

After breakfast we bid farewell to our fellow travellers and conclude our tour.

Hotel de l’Abbaye

Set within the beautifully restored former presbytery of Saint-Martin d'Ainay basilica, Hotel de l'Abbaye blends heritage architecture with warm, contemporary design. Each of the 21 rooms is individually styled, offering a cosy, elegant retreat with thoughtful details and modern comforts. The hotel is perfectly situated between the Perrache train station and Place Bellecour, providing guests with easy access to the main sites of Lyon and local shopping districts.

Château de Pizay

Château de Pizay is a serene vineyard resort in the heart of Beaujolais, surrounded by 80 hectares of historic vines and artfully designed French gardens. Built between the 11th and 19th centuries, its an exceptional location for lovers of nature, fine wines and regional specialties. Guests can enjoy the timeless charm, luxury accommodations and impeccable service throughout their stay. Whether relaxing in the award-winning spa, strolling through the vineyards or savouring a gourmet meal.

Price: £4995

Single Supp: £995

Deposit: £450

Departure Dates:

6 - 14 June 2026

Duration:

8 nights / 9 days

Your Holiday Includes:

Five nights' bed and breakfast at the Hotel de l'Abbaye
Three nights' bed and breakfast at Château de Pizay
Private coach transfers and excursions
Four evening meals and seven lunches
Guided visits to sites listed in the programme
Services of the Tour Host and Tour Leader
Detailed programme and garden notes
All entrance fees, taxes, and gratuities for coach drivers and serving staff

Tour Host & Leader

Paul Zimmerman

Paul Zimmerman is the owner of Paul Zimmerman Roses and has been an independent garden designer and consultant to botanical and private gardens for 10 years. He has written articles for Fine Gardening, Organic Gardening, American Nurseryman and many other magazines. While living in Los Angeles, California Paul founded and ran “Hundred Acre Woods Rosescapeing”, a company specializing in the care, design and

installation of rose gardens; particularly Antique, Shrub and David Austin Roses. He now leads garden tours in Europe, Australia and New Zealand, it is this hands on experience with roses and gardening that Paul draws on for his tours.

Kirsty Fergusson

Kirsty exchanged a career in academia (she has a PhD specialising in French philosopher-novelists) for a life in gardening. Trained at Capel Manor, she was head gardener at Mapperton in Dorset during the early nineties, where a series of fortunate encounters opened the door to garden writing. As well as writing a weekly column for The Express, for many years she was a frequent contributor to Gardens Illustrated, House and Garden, Country Life, The Times, The Telegraph and The Independent. In 2003 she moved to SW France, where she continues to explore the possibilities of her own (very forgiving) garden – when not travelling, writing or leading tours.