Labyrinthe de Poliphile, Hedge maze and garden in Thoiry, France
Labyrinthe de Poliphile is a hedge maze garden in Thoiry that contains about 15,000 meters of yew hedges spread across roughly 6,000 square meters. The network of winding paths and crossings invites visitors to explore and wander through.
The garden drew inspiration from the Renaissance work Hypnerotomachia Poliphili, which combines garden design with classical storytelling. Annabelle de La Panouse and landscape architect Timothy Vaughan created this project using approximately 5,600 yew trees.
The garden displays French design traditions through its nine bridges and symbolic elements that visitors discover while walking through. These design principles come from the Renaissance period and shape how the place looks and feels today.
Visiting the maze typically takes 30 to 60 minutes depending on how thorough your exploration is. It helps to walk slowly and pay attention to intersections to find your way through.
The name of the maze comes from a 15th-century literary work about love and adventure. This literary connection makes it a rare example of a garden intertwined with a famous Renaissance text.
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