Folies Siffait, Historical terraced gardens in Le Cellier, France
Folies Siffait is a garden created with roughly 30 stone terraces descending about 70 meters (230 feet) to the Loire River. The stone walls reach about 12 meters (40 feet) in height and connect different levels through staircases, niches, and small towers.
Maximilien Siffait purchased the La Gerardiere estate in 1816 and transformed an unusable piece of land into this designed garden between 1817 and 1830. The project shows how ambitious private building efforts in the early 19th century reshaped the landscape.
The gardens show how 19th century landowners wanted to reshape their properties and created creative solutions to steep terrain. You can still see the niches, small towers, and staircases that reveal how experimental this transformation was.
The site is currently closed to visitors to protect both its natural features and historical structures. You can view the gardens from outside or check with local tourism offices about future access if restrictions change.
The grounds host over 300 plant species, including Lebanon cedars and green oaks, which shelter rare bats and reptiles. This diversity makes the place an important habitat for animals adapted to the rock crevices and wall niches.
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