Versailles, Nymphenburg, Hampton Court, Schonbrunn, Het Loo -- some of the most famous gardens in history were created by European royalty during the last three hundred years. This rich showcase of Europe's most prestigious estates presents the history, design, and culture of the landscapes created for aristocracy from the seventeenth through twentieth centuries. A lavishly illustrated volume including thirty gardens from England to Russia, Royal Gardens of Europe combines historical anecdotes, personal histories, and a wealth of horticultural information with beautiful color photographs, archival paintings, engravings, and plans.

These large-scale gardens, designed as both intimate retreats and stately representations of power, show how plans, topography, water, sculpture, and architecture can be combined to create elegant and impressive landscapes. Leading garden historian George Plumptre focuses on the evolution of trends in design, on the influences between gardens and gardeners, and on the renewed interest in garden history that has led to the restoration of important gardens in Holland, Belgium, and Russia. Whether created for ostentatious display, private leisure, or for the showcase of horticultural collections, the gardens in this book all share a spirit of creativity, extravagance, and the beauty of the natural world.