The gardens of Chateau de Courances are acknowledged as one of the most integrated examples of an essential relationship between architecture and garden. I would have to agree.
The intricate formal design of the moated parterre garden close to the chateau leading onto the serenity of the pool of water in the garden enclosed by an avenue of trees beyond, gives a gradual sense of dematerialisation from the formal to the natural. This movement from the high artifice of the Chateau with its formal garden to the distant glimpse of what might be the wilderness beyond creates a wistful sense of connection between two differing but equally lovely outdoor environments.
This is a garden for contemplating from windows and for promenading within…but it is best enjoyed in solitude or populated with a profusion of people in a celebratory mood.
The gardens at Courances are considered one of the top fifty gardens by Tim Richardson. Tom’s description is at Gardenvisit.
Image: Parterre, Chateau de Courances, France malcolmkirk.com/galleries
I wonder if Courance illustrates a Great Truth about garden design: that one person’s genius, however great, is not enough to make a really Great Garden. Perhaps a garden needs to be formed by one imagination, reviewed by another, modified – and then re-reviewed and re-modified down the centuries. Courance is attributed to Le Notre but was transformed by Duchene. See http://www.gardenvisit.com/garden/chateau_de_courances
See what you can see, hear what you can hear. Listen and look http://www.schwarzpictures.com/architecture/zurichby.html