The Marqueyssac garden is built on a rocky headland with a 22-hectare green park offering spectacular views down the valley from the high cliffs.
Perched hundreds of meters above the beautiful Dordogne valley, the Jardins Sussus de Marqueyssac or Marqueyssac gardens is one of the most tranquil and unique spaces in this part of France.
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Conceived some 300 years ago by one of the followers of André le Nôtre, the designer behind the gardens of Versailles, this dreamy visual arts complex consists of 150,000 hand-pruned boxwoods crisscrossed. separated by a network of shady walking paths that allow for wandering and exploration.
The hanging gardens of the Marqueyssac are among the finest achievements in the history of gardens in France.
Stroll through the quaint Marqueyssac garden
Listed as a National Historic Landmark, the romantic and picturesque Marqueyssac Garden features more than 6 kilometers of paths surrounded by more than 150,000 hand-pruned box trees, with viewpoints, islets, and rockeries. set. Perched on a rocky headland, the lookout offers one of the most impressive panoramic views of the valley and it's many castles.
Romantic and picturesque scene
Perfectly maintained gardens are developed around a traditional 17th-century castle and feature a suitable steeple balcony, from which guests can enjoy stunning views of the Dordogne valley at high altitudes. 130 m high below. Les Jardins Sussus de Marqueyssac is classified as one of France's remarkable gardens and can be found in between the famous wine regions of Bordeaux and the Rhone, in the small town of Vézac.
The garden is located on a cliff overlooking the Dordogne valley at an altitude of 192 meters.
Marqueyssac's garden stretched along a headland in the Dordogne valley with east and west directions. The vegetation is quite special because of the calcium soil and the lack of water is also its special aspect. On the southern slopes of the park, holm oaks, traditional oaks, maples and berries are grown here. These plants commonly found in Mediterranean climates have adapted themselves to the dry soil of the Marqueyssac. In contrast, on the north side of the park, which is wetter, Atlantic vegetation can be found, such as moringa, maple, and rural oak.
Planted relentlessly during the 1860s, more than 150,000 boxwoods were cut at the Jardins de Marqueyssac.
In 1861, Julien de Cerval, a passionate gardener, inherited Marqueyssac and spent the last thirty years of her life beautifying the Marqueyssac. He planted tens of thousands of boxwoods that give the Marqueyssac a dominant green color that makes it a unique garden and give Marqueyssac an Italian flavor thanks to its terraces and cypress trees. On the entire grounds of the Marqueyssac garden, wild and romantic nature is set in a boxwood grove.
Castle of Castelnaud seen from the garden of Marqueyssac
Passionate about agronomy, Julien de Cerval, is responsible for introducing the ornamental plants found in the park: lemon trees, Judas trees, liburnum, bananas and elms. Passionate about Italian culture, he planted cypress and umbrella pines in Marqueyssac. Finally, Julien de Cerval planted the little primrose in Naples, which today forms a beautiful carpet of color from August to October. Nowadays, when you walk along the old stone road you can smell it. Aromas of herbs like santolina, rosemary or lavender are perfectly adapted to local conditions.
The Marqueyssac Garden is open all year round
In the garden of Marqueyssac, boxwood is highlighted in many forms. Its composition with curving lines, rounded and rolling aspects of boxwood give Marqueyssac softness and romance, contributing to the harmony between the garden and the hills in the landscape of the Marqueyssac. Dordogne valley.
Amazing view of the valley
After extensive restoration, the Marqueyssac was opened to the public in March 1997. Today, these are the most visited gardens in Périgord. At 130 meters above the river at the Belvedere lookout point, you'll discover the most magnificent panoramic views of Périgord. Explore valleys, castles and some of France's most beautiful villages (Beynac, Fayrac, Castelnaud, La Roque-Gageac and Domme) from this exceptional viewpoint.
You can walk through a fragrant and shady labyrinth formed by 150,000 boxwood trees
Cobblestone streets organized in three circuits lead to Belvedere 800 meters from the castle. This Belvedere is a wonderful balcony, 192 meters high and 130 meters above the river, which offers exceptional panoramic views of the Dordogne valley.
The castle is a luxurious residence in the late 18th century, built on the eve of the French Revolution… It has two different sides, one facing the valley, revealing a spacious facade with two sides. is the central tower with stairs. At the back, the layout is much more intimate, opening up the park exclusively for residents. Built with the utmost simplicity, the Marqueyssac has a distinctive roof made from a typical regional material: slate (lauze) or stone brick. The roof weighing more than 500 tons was restored between 2011 and 2017.
Sunset is the best time to see the garden at night
In the park many things have been created to make walking more enjoyable, for example steeple, winding path, small stairs, three dry stone huts, large promenade set up Designed for entertaining and luxurious guests, a small dome, a roadside cross, a rock garden, benches carved into the rock…
For a truly magical experience, visit the Marqueyssac gardens on a summer evening, when the gardens are lit by thousands of candles, creating a romantic, almost surreal atmosphere.
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