The Time of Elegance: Jardin à la Française

Chateau Vaux le Vicomte

Jardin à la Française is a garden design based on harmony and balance born during The Late  Renaissance in France.  There is one French Landscape Architect named Andre Le Nôtre who has received all the credit for The French Formal Garden.  He got the accolade after he was responsible for the transformation of the gardens of The Castle of Vaux le Vicomte, which after that became to be one of the most spectacular Chateau in France of its time.  This Garden design has its origins in Italy during the Renaissance revival.  Andre Le Notre is also responsible for the famous The Petit Trianon's garden which he designed while working at gardens of Palace of Versailles, the beginning of what is today The Avenue des Champs-Élysées, Chateau Fontainebleau and many other spectacular gardens not only in France but also in England, Italy and Germany.  The Jardin à la Française style combines the use of parterrre or bed of greens in geometric shapes divided by gravel walkways, topiaries, fountains or pools in symmetrical patterns in an attempt to create a perfect integration to the Architecture of the Chateaus resulting in a perfect perspective view from miles away.

Palace The Versailles

Petit Trianon

Below, modern versions of Gardens based on Jandins a la Francaise style.

Below, Oscar de la Renta's famous garden.

images via Vaux le Vicomte, Palace of Versailles, How do I love theestyle, Vanity Fair,

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