The Gardens Of Marqueyssac: A Unique Curiosity In France
The Marqueyssac Gardens in the Périgord region are a unique curiosity in France. These gardens, inspired by the Italian Renaissance, offer astonishing boxwood flowerbeds that extend around a 19th-century castle. The boxwoods, planted over 160 years ago and hand-trimmed, invite you to a magical walk above the Dordogne River...
The most visited garden in the Périgord.
Located at the tip of a rocky spur, the Marqueyssac Castle overlooks the Dordogne Valley. The Marqueyssac Gardens, located in the town of Vézac in the Dordogne, are a unique place in France.
These 22 hectares of terraced gardens suspended in the void are classified as Remarkable Gardens of France and are the most visited garden in the Périgord. It must be said that this enchanting place offers one of the most beautiful panoramas in the region and is home to massifs of infinite variety.
The most beautiful panorama can be discovered from the terrace of the tea room. From there, the view embraces the Dordogne Valley and the fortresses of Castelnaud and Beynac as focal points.
A place steeped in history.
The initial layout of this garden is attributed to a certain Porcher, a student of Le Nôtre. But the true creator of this extraordinary garden is Julien de Cerval, a magistrate from Sarlat who became the owner of this estate in 1861.
Falling under the charm of Italian Renaissance gardens, he applied their principles to Marqueyssac and transformed a former vegetable garden into a pleasure terrace planted with thousands of boxwood or Buxus sempervirens.
Julien de Cerval spent thirty years planting 150,000 boxwood plants on his estate. Acquired in 1996 by Kléber Rossillon, a specialist in the management of heritage and cultural sites, these exceptional gardens were restored and opened to the public in 1997. They were then enriched with some contemporary creations: a water path and waterfalls, a path of santolines and rosemary...
A boxwood fantasy.
The Gardens of Marqueyssac are a remarkable and very original example of what can be created in topiary art (the art of trimming trees and shrubs for ornamental purposes).
While topiary art is generally characterized by a search for symmetry and regularity, this garden stands out with astonishing mounds of undulating flower beds, crossed by winding paths.
In total, the Hanging Gardens of Marqueyssac have over 150,000 boxwood plants, aged 110 to 140 years! Trimmed into domes, balls, or spirals, these whimsical boxwoods cover the entire park. Shaded by oaks and strawberry trees, these boxwoods require very little water, making them suitable for climate change.
They coexist with cypresses and some exotic species such as yuccas, acclimatized in the early 20th century.
Note: even today, all the trimming work is done entirely by hand. The boxwoods are trimmed twice a year with manual shears. According to the head gardener, Jean Lemoussu, who has been caring for this garden for over twenty years, it takes four weeks to trim all the boxwoods!
Practical information
The Hanging Gardens of Marqueyssac are open to the public every day of the year. They are located 9 km from Sarlat.
Address
Les Jardins de Marqueyssac
24220 VEZAC
Tel: 05 53 31 36 36
To find out the opening hours and prices, we invite you to consult the official website below.
