There are all sorts of different gardens in the Lorraine – public, private, classical, modern, botanical and stately !
The Lorraine region has a history that goes back thousands of years, which each garden reflects in its own special way. From the Middle Ages to the present day, plants, garden design and composition have continued to evolve according to needs, ideas, society, wars and external influences...
The history of the Lorraine gardens goes back to the dawn of time. Already, in the 3rd century, the poet Ausonius was praising the Moselle hillsides and grassy banks. From the 16th century, the splendour of the Duke of Lorraine’s gardens was well-known and soon copied by the neighbouring chateaux. Under Napoleon III, Nancy was at the forefront of horticulture and was known worldwide for creating new species. Until 1914 under the influence of the Art Nouveau movement, artists and gardeners created works that were in close harmony with each other. Finally, in the 1970s, a new creative impetus was born, with remarkable flowers, free artistic interpretation and works of art incorporated into gardens; all of which suggests that the gardens of Lorraine remain a source of creativity and beauty.
For over 20 years, Lorraine has been opening its gardens for the “Visit a garden in Lorraine” campaign. A brochure is available from the Tourist Office or from participating gardens. The Lorraine Regional Council, the Lorraine Environment Department and the Lorraine Cultural Affairs Department finance this publication and its distribution to the public. Public and private gardens and local groups are thus working together to promote our heritage and help people to discover and grow to love it.
A hundred gardens are open to the public, spread across the four departments of Lorraine: Meuse, Meurthe et Moselle, Moselle and Vosges. We have grouped them into two circuits, one geographical (see the map of the gardens), the other theme-based.
Various themes are on offer: |
Medieval-style gardens |
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Classical gardens |
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Picturesque gardens |
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Nancy School gardens |
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Contemporary gardens |
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Botanical gardens |
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Outstanding trees |
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High altitude gardens |
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Terraced garden |
