Etretat Gardens, Neo-futuristic garden on Alabaster Coast cliffs, Normandy, France
Etretat Gardens is a contemporary garden on the Alabaster Coast of Normandy, stretching across multiple terraced levels with sculpted shrubs and artistic installations throughout. The grounds offer views of the English Channel and the surrounding cliff formations from several viewpoints.
The gardens were established in 1905 when actress Madame Thebault and landscape designer Auguste Lecanue collaborated on grounds surrounding Villa Roksolana on Amont Cliff. What began as a private estate eventually evolved into a publicly accessible space.
Different sections display artistic themes ranging from Zen concepts to references from coastal paintings, creating a visual dialogue with the surrounding landscape. These themed areas invite visitors to explore connections between art and nature throughout their walk.
Visitors can walk approximately 2 kilometers of gravel pathways that connect different sections, with information panels explaining the botanical and artistic elements along the way. The terrain is generally manageable on foot with several resting areas available.
A dedicated garden section features rubber sculptures by Samuel Salcedo depicting human faces positioned alongside shrubs shaped like shells from an 18th-century oyster farm. This unexpected combination of contemporary sculpture and historical reference creates a distinctive artistic moment.
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