The Woodland garden and the Dôme

The stone dome is hidden away behind the hedges and near the spring that provides drinking water for the château. It was restored in 2005 by Manolo da Silva (who has been working in the park for 30 years).

This structure (dating from the late 16th century) is more ancient than the château itself. From there you can see and not be seen… It is an intimate setting, ideal for refined suppers or memorable children’s afternoon parties.

Since walkers, just like children, enjoy exploring beyond the hedges, Philippine de Ganay and her daughter Valentine devised a new walk, with the help of landscape designer Astrid Verspieren. This is neither a garden nor a grove but a peregrination on the edge of light… akin to an aquarium. The walker is guided by a stream. On one side of the water, trunks darkened by ivy and collections of ferns, and on the other, patches of ground-cover plants with white flowers that show off to great effect the bare trunks of pruned trees. A quiet, sheltered and mysterious atmosphere, preparing us for fireworks in the form of the dramatic colours of the Japanese Garden. A contemporary landscape, a new chapter, recently added to the five centuries of garden history already illustrated in the park of Courances…