NOVEMBER 2024
Last August we took the ferry from Cherbourg to Ireland. To kill some time we decided to visit Chateau & Parc des Ravalet in Cherbourg and we were very impressed with the gardens and the park. The gardens of Chateau des Ravalet felt like visiting a botanical garden, with a great variety of plants, a greenhouse and a surrounding forest. A visit to the gardens is free, so definitely don’t skip this activity if you are in Cherbourg!
Practical information
Chateau des Ravalet is a Renaissance castle, which is mainly visited for its remarkable garden. The castle itself is only open a few days a year, for example on Heritage days. The gardens are open during daytime and are free to visit. There is a large car park near the castle. The gardens are very kid friendly, featuring a large meadow and a playing area.
Gardens of Chateau des Ravalet
We were lucky to visit the gardens of Chateau des Ravalet during summertime, while the hydrangeas were in full bloom. Scattered through the gardens and park you will find giant bushes, which was a really spectacular sight. The gardens also feature a large greenhouse, which cannot be visited inside, but you can admire it through the open windows. Apparantly the garden was re-landscaped in the beginning of the 2000s and it really shows! There are several look throughs of plants featuring stunning views of the castle. I think we spent about 2-3 hours enjoying the gardens and the playground.
