Designing a medieval garden

Creating a garden inspired by the Middle Ages means taking a historical and botanical approach to the management of the site and the reception of the public.

Photo du jardin potager du château de Châteaudun

  • PNV

  • 9.30am - 5.30pm

  • 1 day

  • Please contact us for a quote
  • Landscape maintenance manager, landscape gardener
    Green spaces manager
    Owners, directors and managers of public and private heritage sites, parks and gardens managers
  • Please contact us for more information at cmn.institut@monuments-nationaux.fr

  • Face-to-face training

  • Interest in natural and plant heritage

  • CONTACT US

Objectives - Target skills

  • Understand the historical aspect of the medieval garden.
  • Master the rules for designing these gardens.
  • Know which plants and materials are suitable.
  • Understand the management of this space (short and medium term).

Detailed programme

HISTORICAL BACKGROUND

  • History of the art of gardens in the Middle Ages (chronology, influence and key figures, philosophy of the period, examples of gardens).

GARDEN DESIGN

  • Choice of location (physical, natural and practical constraints);
  • Site conditions (vegetation, relief, soil, networks).
  • Choice of layout (garden structure, paths, structural points).
  • Implementation (budget, in-house resources, outsourcing).

PLANT SELECTION

  • Presentation of the different categories of plants used in medieval times.
  • Symbolism of plants and their uses.
  • Choice of materials.
  • Structural elements and furniture.

MAINTENANCE

  • Labour, tools, health monitoring, "Zero Phyto" management, planning.

MEDIATION

  • Promotion of the site: educational displays, communication and cultural events.

Methods and procedures

TEACHING METHODS AND TOOLS

  • Case studies
  • Tool sheet: reference list of plants used
  • Exercise: outlining a landscaping plan
  • Visit to the medieval-inspired garden at Châteaudun (approx. 1h30)

ASSESSMENT METHODS

  • Knowledge multiple-choice questions

Speaker

Portrait de Julien Taulard

Julien TAULARD

Head gardener at the Châteaux of Talcy, Fougères-sur-Bièvre and Châteaudun, Centre for National Monuments

"I'm passionate about managing landscaped areas, so I took a BTS (2-year technical diploma) and then a bachelor's degree in landscaping. After working for private companies, I decided to get involved in heritage gardens at the CMN, particularly at Château de Châteaudun, where a medieval-inspired garden is open to the public. "