Jardin de l'Évêché de Castres, French formal garden in Castres, France.
The Bishop's Garden is a French formal garden in Castres featuring six parterre sections with boxwood embroidery designs that form fleur-de-lis and Occitan cross patterns. English-style garden elements surround these beds, creating a complementary blend of design traditions.
André Le Nôtre, principal gardener to King Louis XIV, designed this episcopal garden between 1676 and 1696 following construction of the Bishop's Palace. His creation applied the principles of French garden design that he had perfected at Versailles.
The garden received recognition as a Historic Monument in 1995 and was designated an Outstanding Garden in 2004 for its French classical design. Visitors can read the space as a symbol of episcopal authority expressed through its symmetrical layout and precise geometric forms.
The garden sits between the Town Hall and Theater and remains open to the public year-round. Visitors will find a children's playground and an orientation table to help them explore the space.
The garden preserves one of France's last remaining boxwood parterres with original patterns from the 17th century. This ornamental work spans a substantial area and demonstrates the craftsmanship required to create such gardens.
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