Discover the gardens of the manor of Eyrignac which are located near the camping La Fage
20 km from the Dordogne La Fage campsite, the Gardens of the Eyrignac Manor offer you a walk in an exceptional 10-hectare park labeled “Remarkable Garden”. The 7 gardens of the domain were conceived around 7 springs, each one in a different spirit, country, vegetable garden, French style or in rose garden.
10 HECTARES OF PLANT STRUCTURES DIVIDED INTO 7 GARDENS
A garden in the Dordogne famous for its sublime plant sculptures that will delight topiary art enthusiasts, the Jardin d’Eyrignac surrounds the Artaban manor, a charming 17th century residence built of local stone. Between its dovecote and its Romanesque chapel is hidden one of the 7 springs of the domain. Each garden in the park is structured around one of these precious sources: in front of the buildings, a formal parterre; a little further on, the garden of the springs, which celebrates water in a pastoral and bucolic spirit; a flower garden, colorful and with a thousand scents; on the other side of an alley of weeping cedars, an intimate vegetable garden worked in permaculture; a large white garden, formal landscaped like the parterre, hosts the elegant “white picnics” of the domain. The gardens of Eyrignac are full of heavenly corners and promise countless surprises to visitors. Among them, a Chinese pagoda that invites you to relax in the shade of the undergrowth. The Gardens of Eyrignac are finally the starting point of two botanical paths, respectively 2,5 and 4,5 km long, punctuated with explanatory panels which allow to discover the fauna and the flora of Périgord. The paths cross a truffle field and a walnut grove, typical of the region.
THE MAINTENANCE SECRETS OF EYRIGNAC AND ITS GARDENS
A veritable open-air museum for topiary art with more than 300 plant sculptures, the Gardens of Eyrignac exhibit the talented and inspired creations of its experienced gardeners. The topiaries are hand-pruned several times during the year: a work of patience and precision to give the yews and boxwoods the desired shape and perfect contours. The gardens of Eyrignac are maintained all year long by 6 gardeners in charge of manual pruning of the topiaries, but also of manual watering of the potted flowers, maintenance of the lawns, planting of bulbs, and cultivation of the vegetable garden. Water garden, the park of Eyrignac is watered by 7 springs which contribute to the beauty of the site and to the personality of each garden. The irrigation of the gardens is made possible by this permanent supply. An ecosystem has developed around the springs and ponds, where frogs, Koi carp, salamanders and dragonflies live together. Guided tours and technical visits in the company of one of the estate’s gardeners are an opportunity to discover the secrets of the gardens and their maintenance. They also offer the opportunity to learn about plant pruning from masters of topiary art.
INFO, SCHEDULES AND RATES OF THE EYRIGNAC GARDEN
Passed on from parents to children for 22 generations, the Gardens of Eyrignac are the fruit of a secular family passion. Landscaped in the French style in the 18th century, they were redesigned in the English style during the 19th century. It was the father of the current owner who gave the gardens their current appearance, combining the French-style parterres typical of the Grand siècle with Renaissance and medieval-inspired gardens: a soul that she strives to maintain today. The gardens of the family manor of Eyrignac open their doors to the public since 1987. They can be visited every day of the year, until nightfall from November to March and until 7pm from April to October. The price of an individual self-guided tour is 12.90 euros for an adult, 8.50 euros for a young person from 11 to 18 years old, and 6.50 euros for a child from 5 to 10 years old. Admission is free for children under 5 years old. Reduced rates are also available for families of 2 adults and 3 children and for students. In summer, guided tours are offered for an additional 2 euros on the adult ticket. The site has a restaurant and tea room open from the beginning of April to the end of October, a shaded picnic area and a gift store with souvenirs and gifts on the themes of gardening and decoration.
