81 views Photo Uploaded: Jun 17 2008 18:34:25 GMT Taken: 2008:04:22 03:50:00 Manufacturer: Canon Camera: Canon EOS DIGITAL REBEL XTiAperture: F18 Shutter: 1/640 sec ISO: 1600 Flash: No (Turned off) My 2008 trip to Holland
APELDOORN
Royal Palace "Het Loo"
My favorite part of the visit was the gardens. I spent as much time in them as I did touring the inside of the palace.
On the left side of the palace is the King's garden. It has an intricate pattern cut out of shrubbery with a fountain in the middle. Walking up the steps onto a wall I could look down into the expansive lower garden. This garden is longer and wider than a football field. It holds several statues, several fountains, and lots of garden beds with all kinds of flowers and shrubs. Since it was early spring, I'm sure I didn't see the full array of flowers, but it was still beautiful.
The upper garden lies behind the lower garden, and is simply raised up higher. It has its own fountain and flower beds, as well as a terrace where one can go up to a higher level and look down over all the gardens. Walking through the lower garden and up to the right side of the castle is the queen's garden, and I can see why it would be known as such. It is definitely where I would spend most of my time. It seemed more secluded, and private. It also had intricate shrubbery patters, but also had a circuit of walkways that were surrounded by ivy covered lattices. It was fun to walk through. I could picture the royal children playing tag through the maze of tunnels.
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