Le Clos de Jouvenet

5 Star recommendation from the Enduring Gardener for Le Clos de Jouvenet

Anyone considering spending a few days in Rouen couldn’t do better than to stay at Clos de Jouvenet.  We found this lovely, tranquil B&B in Alastair Sawday’s guide to special places to stay in France  and it really was special. Set up on the hill above the city, it was a 15-minute walk from the centre, but a world away in terms of its peaceful setting and large private garden.  The rooms were beautiful and stylish and if you are more organised than we were, you could book a room with views over the cathedral (our view was  over the garden). The owner,  Catherine de Witte, is incredibly welcoming and helpful  and provides a magnificent breakfast.  Rouen is well worth a visit, but don’t bother with the Botanical Garden – I’ve photographed the two best bits and that’s about it!

Rouen Botanical Garden is very disappointing in general, but this peacock chose a perfect spot to pose

The iris garden was the best bit of Rouen's Botanical Garden