Les Jardins de Marqueyssac

While the Gagnons and Kate were visiting Castelnaud, Maggie and Alan were at the Jardins (Gardens) of Marqueyssac, on the other side of the Dordogne Valley. In fact, they were able to look across the valley and see Castelnaud (but not the Gagnons and Kate).

Situated as it is on the chalky cliffs, this private estate affords panoramic views of several castles, including Beynac, below.

One of the most distinctive characteristics of these gardens is the creatively trimmed boxwoods, also known as a folly of boxwoods. It must need an army of hedge trimmers to achieve the incredible variety of shapes and configurations that cover the immense grounds of this private estate. You can see just a sample of this artistry below.

This unusual landscaping even continued down the uppermost part of the cliffs.

We were also able to see the Dordogne River and the villages and farmland edging it.

Roaming freely around the grounds were peacocks, like the one below, strutting oblivious to its precarious position on the edge of a cliff.

There were old olive trees whose branches were clothed in vibrant green moss.

The creativity of the gardeners went well beyond the trimming of the boxwoods.

A stream from high above the cliffs spilled into the pond seen below, which was viewed while travelling part of the six kilometers of trails through these unique gardens. Having navigated the greater part of these trails, there was no time left to take advantage of the salon de thé situated within this beautiful estate before leaving to pick up the rest of our group at Castelnaud across the valley.