Gardens
The main ornamental and formal gardens in the area which are worth a visit
include...
Location: South east of Sarlat in the Dordogne department.
Open all year round, with a restaurant open from 1st April to
31st October. Guided and unguided tours.
Four hectares of greenery sculpture made up of avenues of yews,
boxes and hornbeams.
For 500 years, 22 generations of the same family have lived here.
The first chateau, dating from the Middle Ages was burnt down in the 17th century.
The current manor house was soon after built in its place.
The first gardens were created in the 18th century, inspired by
Italian garden design, and were totally modified into an English romantic garden
in the 19th century following the fashion of the time. But 40 years ago, the
current owner's father, Gilles Sermadiras de Pouzols de Lile, decided to restore
them. He searched and found the original layout of the former garden and drew
the first plan of the garden he had always dreamt of.
On planting, the trees were only 20 cm tall. They have matured
considerably since then!
Location: Situated
close to the river Dordogne in the department of Dordogne, near Vézac
and not far from the lovely village of Domme.
Open all the year round, with a restaurant/tea room open from
Easter to 1st November. Guided and unguided tours.
The chateau of Marqueyssac is famous for its beautiful 17th and
19th-century gardens. One of France's most beautiful "Parc à l'italienne",
Marqueyssac's 22-hectare park and 18th century château offer more than
six kilometers of shaded paths for strolling, edged by 150,000 hand-trimmed
box plants and adorned with panoramic viewpoints, rockeries, waterfalls and
natural scenery.
Location: Situated
in Terrasson to the west of Brive.
Open April to September. Closed on Tuesdays except in July and
August. Guided tours only.
The gardens were created by the town of Terrasson in the framework
of a competition. Known as the 'Jardins de l'Imaginaire' and located in the
heart of the old quarters of Terrasson Lavilledieu, six hectares of contemporary
garden were created.
The layout consists of 13 themed gardens with box hedges, natural
terraces and water features: the sacred forest, the vegetal tunnel, the garden
of the elements, the terraces, the green theatre, the four winds, the perspectives,
the water gardens, the rose garden, the path of the springs, the green sculptures,
the rivers and the greenhouse.
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The manoir of Eyrignac |
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The
'hanging gardens' of Marqueyssac |
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The chateau of Marqueyssac |
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At Marqueyssac, topiary
galore! |
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Peacock at Marqueyssac,
looking across the valley of the Dordogne to the chateau of Beynac |
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Terrasson:
one of the themed gardens |
The manoir of Eyrignac
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