I hope you're right! What a beautiful place for a picnic.

I'm not sure it would be "kosher" to bring your own picnic to the Rodin, since they sell food in the garden.

I learned my lesson from the fall, when we brought our lunch and drinks to the hotel courtyard (in Chinon) and the manager gently chided us for it, since the courtyard is off the bar area of the hotel.

Here's one link on this forum - yk's comment -
http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...amp;dirtyBit=1

But, that's not where I first learned about it. The passage I read was very descriptive about the scupltures as well.

My guidebooks are packed up but I found a Rick Steves 2002. He says there's a good self-serve cafeteria as well as "idyllic picnic spots in the family-friendly back garden" on page 61.

This is not the guidebook I used that has the beautifully descriptive passage about picnicing in Rodin's garden. It's just the only one I have with me because I lent it out to someone who returned it.

The suggestion has been on this board more than once and is in more than one guidebook so I hope no one experiences any difficulties. I WILL picnic there one day!

The "back garden" of the Rodin might refer to a section truly at the very back of the property, which is somewhat concealed by a partial wall or tall hedges, just past the last pond/fountain. See:
http://linktrim.com/26k