La Louve, Mediterranean garden in Bonnieux, France
La Louve is a Mediterranean garden laid out on stone terraces where regional plants like rosemary, lavender, sage, and cypress trees are arranged in geometric patterns. The space uses the natural slope to create multiple levels of planted areas connected by pathways.
Nicole de Vesian, a designer who previously worked at Hermès, purchased the property in 1986 and spent the following years transforming it into an organized garden. The project converted an abandoned site into its current structured form.
The garden blends French design principles with Japanese pruning techniques, visible in how plants are carefully shaped throughout the space. Visitors can experience this meeting of different gardening traditions in the geometric plant arrangements.
Visits are possible on select afternoons from May through July, with groups of ten or more needing to book ahead. Individual visitors should check conditions beforehand as the garden operates on a limited schedule.
The garden incorporates stones from the nearby Durance River, woven into its structure and pathways. Custom wooden benches are deliberately placed in quieter spots to invite visitors to pause and sit.
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