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The gardens were re-created in the 1960s, making extensive use of clipped hedges and topiary. There is a long pool, parterre and rose garden.
Surprisingly, the gardens in their present incarnation are little more than forty years old, and represent the vision and determination of one man: Gilles Sermadiras de Pouzols de Lile, whose family built le Manoir during the late-seventeenth century and has lived there ever since. His son Patrick, who divides his time between publishing fine art books in Paris and running the estate which he now owns.
The most striking element of the four-hectare gardens is the surprisingly limited palette of species with which he elected to work - predominantly box, hornbeam, yew and cypress. However, the decision not only ensured a tonal unity which is sustained throughout the seasons, but more importantly, provided the basis of the avenues of clipped forms whose architectural effect has become one of the classic images of Eyrignac. It makes you wonder how the estate and gardens manage to keep looking so good.
'The more you care for a garden, the more care it demands” says Patrick. ‘ We have eleven full-time employees, including four gardeners, and maintenance costs averaging around ten thousand euro’s per day. Since we welcome around eighty thousand visitors per year, we manage to meet almost all of our costs from
those who come to enjoy the gardens. The rest comes from receptions, conventions and other events.'
And care it certainly gets. Weeding is carried out by hand. Electric hedge-trimmers are also shunned in favour of hand-clipping, which is kinder to new shoots. In order to maintain the overall appearance during the peak growth period from June until October, further specialist help is brought in as necessary to hand-trim the topiary with the aid of precisely-aligned templates and hundreds of metres of slender wires. Despite (or because of) this, the gardens open their doors to visitors every single day of the year, Christmas Day included.
After touring the gardens features, you then arrive at their newest attraction: La Roseraie, a large formal rose garden currently lying dormant, but which is due to produce a spectacular display - entirely in white - in early summer, around the month of June.
Les jardins du Manoir d'Eyrignac, 24590 SALIGNAC The Gardens of Eyrignac are 13 km north east of Sarlat.
By rail: Sarlat 13 km, Souillac 20 km, Brive 40 km. Car - by A 20: Brive or Souillac exits. Car - by A 89: La Bachellerie and Terrasson exits.
Contact -Owner: Patrick Sermadiras de Pouzols de Lile Tel. : +33 5 53 28 99 71 Fax : +33 5 53 30 39 89 Email:
contact@eyrignac.com
The next edition will be available in June. Contact us -
info@quercylocal.com
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