After visiting Stowe, with its classical splendor and Brownian landscape design, I drove to Waddesdon Manor for something altogether different.  This was the Victorian lair of Baron de Rothschild, built in the grand French style, he hired a French architect to basically cobble together the greatest hits from the Loire valley chateaux . . .

. . . and decked out with the type of formal bedding garden parterres that the Victorians were obsessed with but which Brown (had he lived that long) would have ripped.

I loved the contrast and, to be honest, I have to say I prefer the classical English style.  Sorry to the Victorians and the French.