Longleat Hedge Maze, Hedge maze in Horningsham, England.
The Longleat Hedge Maze spans 1.48 acres and contains 1.69 miles of paths formed by 16,000 English yew trees reaching considerable heights.
Landscape architect Adrian Fisher designed this hedge maze in 1975 as part of the expansion of attractions at the Longleat estate.
The maze continues the English tradition of garden architecture, incorporating bridges and observation points that allow visitors to study its layout.
The maze remains open throughout the year with admission included in the general Longleat estate entry ticket, offering access to multiple attractions.
Six elevated wooden bridges surround a central observation tower, enabling visitors to plan their routes through the intricate pathway system.
Location: Horningsham
GPS coordinates: 51.18803,-2.27769
Latest update: March 13, 2025 09:12
Labyrinths have been part of human architecture for thousands of years, serving religious, meditative, and decorative purposes. Chartres Cathedral preserves one of the most famous medieval floor mosaics in Europe, guiding pilgrims along a 13-meter-wide path made of blue and white stones. English castles like Hampton Court developed hedge mazes from the 16th century onward as part of their formal gardens, while Italian Renaissance villas integrated geometric stone patterns into their terraces. The collection also includes underground structures such as the Paris Catacombs, whose winding passages were originally quarries, or the Roman cisterns of Istanbul with their rows of columns. Each era and region developed its own techniques: medieval stonework in cathedrals, baroque garden architecture with trimmed hedges, or pre-Columbian temple complexes with ritual pathways. These sites document various construction methods, from laying colored stone mosaics to creating multi-level garden courses to constructing underground vaults. They offer insights into historical craftsmanship and the symbolic meaning of the labyrinth across different cultures.
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