If I had to give a definition of the word "refined", the gardens of the Château de Chenonceau in Touraine would undoubtedly be one of them. Known for its singular and elegant architecture, the Château de Chenonceau also offers us gardens to rival the greatest châteaux. Their arrangements do not resemble those that one can usually see, but their beauty is incomparable. I invite you to go a little green through this article which tells you more about the gardens of the Château de Chenonceau in the Loire Valley.
The Diane de Poitiers Garden at the Château de Chenonceau
It is a firework of colors and scents that the Jardin de Diane de Poitiers offers you. An emblematic figure in the history of France, the favorite of King Henry II was an innovative and inspiring woman. And this garden that bears his name is the perfect representation.
The history of the Diane de Poitiers Garden
When Diane de Poitier receives the Château de Chenonceau as a proof of love from her lover King Henri II, she will only find a modest vegetable patch as a garden. You suspect that this somewhat rustic green space is absolutely not suitable to accommodate its King and the Court. Never mind ! The King's favorite will turn this vegetable garden into a superb Renaissance garden, worthy of its position. It is to the east of the Château de Chenonceau, after the moat, that Diane de Poitiers decided to set up her garden. It was in 1551 that its exploitation began. No less than 5 years will be needed to turn this rustic place into a magnificent colorful garden. It must be said that the modifications were colossal! In order to avoid the floods of the Cher, the workers had to raise the ground to protect it from possible flooding. To make her wish come true, Diane de Poitiers called on Philippe de l'Orme, as well as the fountain engineer Cardin de Valence.
The structure of the Diane de Poitiers Garden
8 large triangles of lawn form the parterre of the Jardin de Diane de Poitiers, delimited by paths lined with flowers and shrubs.
While strolling in these alleys, you will be able to discover boxwood, spindle trees, laurel-tin, or even shrubs and yews. For summer visitors, you can observe Hibiscus on Stem which only grow during the summer. All around, superb rosebushes adorn the walls and offer this singular feminine charm to the Diane de Poitiers Garden. You will agree, it looks like a real fairy tale?
By walking on the paths, you will reach after a while the center of the garden, embellished with a jet of water which has returned to its original place at the time of the favorite. Stop then in its center, look around you, and take a leap into the past. Imagine yourself in the 16th century, Diane de Poitiers strolling peacefully in her new garden, with this superb building in the distance rising above Cher.
The Catherine de Medici Garden
Opposite the Diane de Poitiers Garden, the Catherine de Medici Garden stands proudly and imposes its elegance just like its creator, the Queen of France. Smaller in size than that of Diane de Poitiers, this intimate garden is an excellent vantage point on the west facade of the Château de Chenonceau. Pull out your camera or mobile phone, this is the perfect place to try and take the perfect picture of the Château des Dames.
The story of the Catherine de Medici Garden
When Henry II died, his wife Queen Catherine de Medici was able to satisfy his desire for revenge. She will dismiss Diane de Poitiers, and will exchange the Château de Chenonceau for that of Chaumont sur Loire. The Château de Chenonceau then becomes royal property again. She then makes every effort to oust her rival by erasing her achievements.
The Queen of France will then have the Catherine de Medici Garden built, just opposite that of her rival. The opposition will then exist for eternity. She will have a garden of curiosities laid out where flowers and shrubs adorn Chenonceau wonderfully.
The structure of the Catherine de Medici Garden
Its layout, simple but elegant, is based on five plots of grass, in the middle of which we find a superb pond. Its paths, built on 5,500m2 of land, offer you a relaxing stroll in this garden straight out of a fairy tale. The perfectly cut boxwood balls indeed give a magical side to this garden of the Château de Chenonceau.
Get closer to the Cher, and observe the Clair-Matin rosebushes that adorn the edges of this elegant garden. You will also find stem roses and lavender during your discovery, which offer you a sensory journey that you will not be able to do without.
©flickr
The Green Garden of the Château de Chenonceau
You, who are followers of remarkable trees, have found your paradise on earth! The Green Garden, designed by Lord Seymour in 1825, is home to plane trees, a Spanish fir, two Douglas firs, redwoods, a holm oak, and many other magnificent trees. The Countess of Villeneuve, owner of the Château de Chenonceau at the time, wanted to see an English-style park built, where nature took over.
This is where Catherine de Medici decided to set up her aviaries and her menagerie, intended to impress her guests and make them experience a moment of celebration and a journey into the heart of nature.
The Russel Page Garden
This place is a tribute to Russel Page, an illustrious British landscape artist of the 20th century. Following the discovery of a plan imagined by Page, the Château de Chenonceau team pays homage to him by drawing inspiration from it for the construction of this garden.
©Dominique Cuoineau
The Vegetable Garden
During your visit to the heart of the Château de Chenonceau, you will no doubt have observed its flowery side, and the good smells that emanate from it. It is in this Flower Potager that a hundred varieties of flowers are grown and cut to decorate the interior of the château. The 400 rosebushes will fill your nostrils with a pleasant scent and the twelve squares lined with apple trees invite you to stroll.
The Labyrinth of the Château de Chenonceau
Lose yourself in this green setting, the Italian labyrinth desired by Catherine de Medici. Located in a clearing in the 70-hectare Château park, the Chenonceau Labyrinth offers you a journey into the heart of the estate's nature. Think again, getting lost between its 2,000 yew trees won't get on your nerves, quite the contrary. This environment will soothe you, and give you a feeling of freedom.
Your escapade in the heart of the Domaine du Château de Chenonceau offers you a rare set of gardens, vegetable gardens and labyrinth that will delight you. Let your senses carry you, which will be particularly alert.
The Château de Chenonceau is a real gem to visit. Touraine has many other castles to discover, and activities to try. If you want advice and ideas for a perfect weekend in Touraine, I invite you to read my article.
Source:
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DRAC Center – Rendez-vous at the gardens 31 May, 1-2 June 2013 – Gardens and their creators
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Site of the Château de Chenonceau – Diane de Poitiers Garden
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Website of the Château de Chenonceau – Catherine de Medici Garden