During the 16th century, the layout of the gardens was designed to enhance the architectural proportions of the château de Thoiry, built by the alchemist Raoul Moreau. One century later, the central terraces and pathways were to serve as the basis for a renewal of forms, known as the French garden. Claude Desgot, Le Nôtre’s […]
During the 16th century, the layout of the gardens was designed to enhance the architectural proportions of the château de Thoiry, built by the alchemist Raoul Moreau. One century later, the central terraces and pathways were to serve as the basis for a renewal of forms, known as the French garden.
Claude Desgot, Le Nôtre's nephew and associate, drew inspiration from this to design the gardens and perspectives, in order to continue the architect's work. In the 19th century, the park and the estate fell victim to the fashion for English-style gardens, and only the main south-west axis and its French parterre escaped destruction.
The two landscape gardeners Chatelain and Varé created splendid clumps of new species of trees, including 51 sequoias planted around 1852, hiding the château under the vegetation and obstructing all views of the vast surrounding landscape.
Around 1970, with the wish to restore the gardens to their former glory, the owners of the château de Thoiry restored the central axis of the first garden and cleared the view on the castle. The aim was to re-establish the perspective while developing the English-style park and botanical collections on the rest of the estate.
Thoiry castle and gardens are an integral part of the visit to the zoological park, created in 1968 for the pleasure of young and old alike.
Claude Desgot, Le Nôtre's nephew and associate, drew inspiration from this to design the gardens and perspectives, in order to continue the architect's work. In the 19th century, the park and the estate fell victim to the fashion for English-style gardens, and only the main south-west axis and its French parterre escaped destruction.
The two landscape gardeners Chatelain and Varé created splendid clumps of new species of trees, including 51 sequoias planted around 1852, hiding the château under the vegetation and obstructing all views of the vast surrounding landscape.
Around 1970, with the wish to restore the gardens to their former glory, the owners of the château de Thoiry restored the central axis of the first garden and cleared the view on the castle. The aim was to re-establish the perspective while developing the English-style park and botanical collections on the rest of the estate.
Thoiry castle and gardens are an integral part of the visit to the zoological park, created in 1968 for the pleasure of young and old alike.
