Winterscape at the Nemours Mansion & Gardens

It was a frosty day indeed to be out in the Brandywine valley visiting the Nemours Mansion and Gardens. Thankfully, it was bright and sunny that day and ours was the only tour group that had the opportunity to walk around the garden and the estate. Previously the home of Alfred I du Pont and family, the mansion and garden was open to the public since 1977. Following a major restoration lasting about 3 years, the estate was brought back to its former glory and reopened for tours again in 2008. A very knowledgeable and friendly guide introduced us to a glimpse of the du Ponts' lifestyle and a skip and hop through some of the country's most valuable European and American art collections and antique furniture. That alone is a wonderful tour worth coming for.


But as some will say, the setting is key. Surrounding the mansion are hundreds of acres of formal gardens, woodlands, and water features that together, might give one the temporary illusion of being on the grounds of an 18th-century chateau in France in the Louis XVI-Rococo style. While the formal French gardens are slowly but surely retreating for the winter, it was still enjoyable to admire what's left of the parterre and imagine for a moment how delightful it must be during the lush summer; or to stroll down the gently sloping lawn from the mansion to the swimming pool and colonnade surrounded by statues depicting the four seasons while making a mental note - we'll have to return next spring for the bulbs display. 

View of the French colonnade from the mansion

French parterre

Swimming pool

View of the mansion