Completed for the Temple family, land owners in Stowe, the gardens took two centuries to complete, with work starting in 1700. Designed first as a formal garden, it was later developed according to a layout with more fluid lines. Take the large avenue and pass temples, neo-Gothic columns and the north façade of the house; go along the banks of the River Alder, dotted with various monuments typical of 18C landscape art. It's worth taking your time to meander about these magnificent gardens, which are among Europe's finest.