Peony Collection, France

Located in Northwestern France, not far from Le Mans, le Chateau de Sourches was built in the 18th Century and has been at the heart of many historical events since the troubled time of the French Revolution. The large cellars of the neo-classical chateau even sheltered a significant number of paintings from the Louvre museum as well as furniture from Versailles during the German occupation of France in World War 2. More recently, the chateau has become the home to a different kind of collection as attractive as before but with an ephemeral beauty. Its owner Bénédicte de Foucaud is a passionate peony grower and since 2003 has gradually gathered together many varieties from across the world including Japan, Austria, Sweden, The United States and Canada. Nestled in the old moat of the chateau, which is bordered by mature trees, it has become the largest collection of peonies in the world with other 3,200 varieties. This includes tree peonies such as Paeonia suffruticosa 'Shiguregumo' and 'Oborozuki'; herbaceous hybrids with the lightly fragrant Paeonia 'Prosperity Maud' and the fully double 'Triphena Parkin' as well as the highly sought after intersectional or Itoh Peonies including P. 'First Arrival' and Paeonia 'Dark Eyes' , its dark crimson flowers contrasting with the bright yellow stamens at its heart.