Presbytère d’Étienville - A Beautiful Garden of Normandy, France
Normandy (Normandie) in the north of France is one of 18 regions. It is well known for its coastline and many beautiful gardens. Covering an area of approximately 30,627 kilometres it is divided into five administrative departments. In this new series of Beautiful Gardens of Normandy, France, we will be travelling through the region exploring its gardens in more detail.
“The many great gardens of the world, of literature and poetry, of painting and music, of religion and architecture, all make the point as clear as possible: The soul cannot thrive in the absence of a garden. If you don't want paradise, you are not human; and if you are not human, you don't have a soul.” - Sir Thomas More, author of 16th Century seminal classic ‘Utopia’
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An Introduction To The Beautiful Gardens of Normandy
I remember when I was first enchanted by a garden, and as you can probably guess, it was a literary garden. I first read 'The Secret Garden’ as a teenager having had no previous exposure to the classic story. My cloth-bound hardcover copy teems with illustrations by Lauren Child. Emerging from the pages with splashes of colour and abstract imagination, her illustrations brought the story to life.
The story follows a young girl as she explores the natural world around her and experiences beauty for the first time. The girl discovers joy and wonder as she learns the seasons, watches new grass shoots emerge from damp soil, and smells flowers blooming at dusk. I had never before been so aware of the details of growth and seasonal change. I am obviously not a country girl. Was ‘The Secret Garden’ a book of your childhood? Are gardens a place of peace and wonder in your life?
Normandy Gardens - Kitchen Gardens to Château Gardens
Come on a brief journey with us through some of the beautiful gardens of Normandy, northwest of Paris. From farm estate walled kitchen gardens to novelty water features, from grand manicured promenades to Romantic wild glades, you won’t believe the variety that exists behind every set of château gates.
This is the first in a series of articles exploring the gardens of Normandy and with stunning scenery in the videos, it's like being in the gardens yourself. Enjoy your first peak at what’s to come as we explore the flower filled garden of Presbytère d’Étienville.
Presbytère d’Étienville
The park and gardens of the Presbytère d’Étienville extend over five acres and encompass three historic sites; The 15th Century fortified presbytery, the church buildings, and the castle residence.
With multiple delightful walled gardens inspired by medieval designs, as well as an amphitheatre, orchard, vineyards, pond, and greenhouse this is a wonderful location to visit. The garden welcomes visitors and accepts cash tariffs (ticket payments). An adult ticket is 7€ and a child ticket is 3€ (at the time of writing). We suggest you amble slowly around the park and admire the views to distant marches and lakes.
Visit the garden's facebook page Parc et Jardins du Presbytère d'Etienville (Normandy) for more information, photos, and directions. If planning a visit to Presbytère d’Étienville, take note of the following practical information.
- The closest village is Héauville, a 20 minute drive from the city of Cherbourg on the Cotentin Peninsula.
- Étienville Rectory and Gardens Le Presbytère
- 18 rue de l'Eglise
BP 1 50360 ETIENVILLE - Phone : 02 33 41 05 50
- Mobile phone : 06 09 65 23 76
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Château de Canon Garden – A Beautiful Garden of Normandy - another famous garden of Normandy
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Emily is a contributor to A French Collection and her work has been featured on numerous other blogs. She’s an avid traveller who’s explored more than 15 countries and when not writing travel related articles, she’s likely reading a classic novel or creating original fashion garments. Emily’s also the daughter of Annette (our editor) and has spent lots of time in France.
