Backcountry France: Eyrignac, the Gardens

Hidden in the hills of Perigord, lies a secret garden that epitomizes the art of French Gardens. I have always admired the French tradition of working by hand (my manicure - or rather lack of - would testify to the hours I spend digging and trimming by hand), the precision of pruning, the control over the trees and the plants.


This garden, which has been in the family for more than 500 years, was re-designed in the French manner by the 22nd generation owner, Gilles Sermadiras de Pouzols de Lile. Today his son and his family continue the tradition. The garden was elaborated on the basic elements of French style: lines, vistas and repetition. This gardens use clever tricks and optical illusions for which French gardens have been so famous since the 17th century. The discipline with which this garden is designed exudes a sense of perfection and simple beauty. The palette is restricted to fewer than ten basic species such as boxwood, hornbeams, yews, cypress, apple trees....which give the garden absolute harmony in all subtle gradation of green. 


I hope you enjoy the tour of these 10 acres of impeccable lawns and 9 miles of hedges. On a perfect June day, my parents and I lost ourselves in thoughts and spirit, in awe of the extraordinary creativity of man in arranging God's creations and gifts.

These outbuildings can be rented for a night, a week end, or one may wish to stay forever....

Hornbeam walk

Trimmed apple trees

At the center of this rotunda, an eight pointed star allows one to get one's bearing and each window offers vistas of the field

The owner's residence: Manoir d'Eyrignac

Cottage to rent

The white rose garden

The owner's idyllic pool

vistas...

At the end of the path, an unexpected red chinese chippendale bench

Suggested Books:

Eyrignac: The Gardens  Buy Here

"The garden of the Manoir d'Erignac is the best known garden in the Perigord. Redesigned last century and maintained with rare precision, it represents the archetype of French formal gardens, but on human scale. At Eyrignac, they aim for simple shapes-and absolute perfection!"

French Garden Style - Georges Levecque  Buy Here




The French Garden - Jean Pierre Babelon Buy Here