The Moutiers Wood (Le Bois des Moutiers)

Le Bois des Moutiers is a masterpiece of Arts and Crafts architecture and landscape design, created in 1898 through an exceptional collaboration between British architect Sir Edwin Lutyens and legendary garden designer Gertrude Jekyll for French patron Guillaume Mallet. The 12-hectare estate features a stunning manor house with interiors crafted by William Morris & Co artisans and Pre-Raphaelite artist Robert Anning Bell, surrounded by seven intimate enclosed gardens each with unique color themes and fragrances. The grand park extends through woodland paths to the Normandy cliffs, showcasing over 3,000 plant species including spectacular Himalayan rhododendrons reaching 10 meters tall, Chinese azaleas, and Japanese maples thriving in the rare acidic soil. Classified as a Monument Historique and labeled 'Jardin Remarquable de France,' this was the first private garden in France opened to the public in 1970. Recently restored by new owners Sophie and Jérôme Seydoux with landscape architect Madison Cox, all visits are guided tours by reservation only, conducted primarily in French with English digital guides available.