Léa Chastel

The gardens at Pavillon de Vendôme are formal and a little stiff, and I like showing how that contrasts with the looser, wilder planting just outside the gate. From there I usually move toward Thermes Sextius, where warm water still rises from the same ground that gave the city its name long before Provence existed as an idea. I trained originally as a garden historian, which shows in how much time I spend on hedges and stonework rather than dates. On a call I like to pause the walk and let people ask about a plant or a fountain before continuing.