Jardin des Cinq Sens, Medieval garden in Yvoire, France
The Jardin des Cinq Sens is a themed garden in Yvoire divided into sections corresponding to each of the senses. Plants grow in geometric patterns along paved paths, and specialized areas like an alpine meadow mark the entrance to a plant labyrinth.
The garden was conceived in 1986 and opened in 1988, based on medieval horticulture practices with stone walls and structured layout. Its design draws from historical horticultural traditions that centered sensory experiences within gardens.
The garden sections are organized around sensory experiences, where scents, textures, and tastes become tangible through thoughtfully chosen plants. Visitors can directly experience how gardens historically served as places for engaging the senses rather than simply displaying beauty.
The garden is open from April through October, and comfortable shoes are recommended since paved paths guide you through different sections. Late spring or early summer is the best time to visit when most plants are in bloom.
The garden contains approximately 45 species of ferns beneath linden trees, a collection rarely found in such breadth elsewhere. These ferns create a cool, shaded area that contrasts distinctly with the sunnier, scent-filled sections elsewhere in the garden.
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