An enchanted world full of surprises for those who venture there
Holidays in Brittany, France
An enchanted world, a remarkable garden
When you arrive, you'll discover a hilly landscape bathed in the light that is so characteristic of Brittany and which, discovered by the Impressionists, has since inspired many painters.
Click here to visit the gardens website.
Click here to visit the gardens website.
The château, a pure jewel of the 17th century, set in its green setting, has been linked to our literature since the 19th century, but it is above all the painters who have given it its contemporary image. Its redesigned and reinterpreted gardens, a marvel of disorientation and intelligence, have now been returned to their original form, a succession of plays of light and shade inspired by the 17th century.
The first geometric terraced garden, with its triangular flowerbeds and elaborate yew and privet trees, is followed by a long tunnel of black yew and diaphanous wisteria that heralds the second garden, conceived as an initiatory journey where you move constantly from shadow to light, from intrigue to serenity, from laughter to reverie...
The tour now continues in the moat garden, where a pond is home to a beautiful and rare collection of anatidae and geese. Not far away is a henhouse with a collection of hens and cockerels. Amid the rhododendrons in bloom in spring, the moat garden is also a showcase for the botanical boxwood collection, with over 400 specimens, approved in 2018 by the CCVS (Comité des Collections Végétales Spécialisées). The gardens have been awarded the "Jardin Remarquable" label and are protected as Historic Monuments.
The Ballue gardens are members of the prestigious "Les plus beaux jardins de France" network.
The first geometric terraced garden, with its triangular flowerbeds and elaborate yew and privet trees, is followed by a long tunnel of black yew and diaphanous wisteria that heralds the second garden, conceived as an initiatory journey where you move constantly from shadow to light, from intrigue to serenity, from laughter to reverie...
The tour now continues in the moat garden, where a pond is home to a beautiful and rare collection of anatidae and geese. Not far away is a henhouse with a collection of hens and cockerels. Amid the rhododendrons in bloom in spring, the moat garden is also a showcase for the botanical boxwood collection, with over 400 specimens, approved in 2018 by the CCVS (Comité des Collections Végétales Spécialisées). The gardens have been awarded the "Jardin Remarquable" label and are protected as Historic Monuments.
The Ballue gardens are members of the prestigious "Les plus beaux jardins de France" network.
History of the gardens
THE FIRST GARDENS OF THE 17th CENTURY
The gardens were first laid out in the 1620s, when the first flowerbeds were planted on the terrace built on the medieval surrounding walls. The regular pattern of a sculpted ceiling in one of the château's rooms evokes the design of this garden. Simple and geometric, it was already a remarkable addition to the undulating landscape of the surrounding countryside. Accompanied by a vegetable garden and an orange grove, it continued westwards, on the site of the large moat of the former château fort, with a so-called "fly garden", i.e. a flower garden for bees. To the north-east, a path planted with beech and chestnut trees led visitors to the château's pond. The main access to the estate was via a long, wide and majestic rabine driveway, planted, we are told, with fir trees during the French Revolution. After the post-war period of abandonment, new gardens were reborn in 1973, under the impetus of publisher Claude Arthaud, with her husband, architect François Hébert Stevens, and utopian architect Paul Maymont.
The gardens were first laid out in the 1620s, when the first flowerbeds were planted on the terrace built on the medieval surrounding walls. The regular pattern of a sculpted ceiling in one of the château's rooms evokes the design of this garden. Simple and geometric, it was already a remarkable addition to the undulating landscape of the surrounding countryside. Accompanied by a vegetable garden and an orange grove, it continued westwards, on the site of the large moat of the former château fort, with a so-called "fly garden", i.e. a flower garden for bees. To the north-east, a path planted with beech and chestnut trees led visitors to the château's pond. The main access to the estate was via a long, wide and majestic rabine driveway, planted, we are told, with fir trees during the French Revolution. After the post-war period of abandonment, new gardens were reborn in 1973, under the impetus of publisher Claude Arthaud, with her husband, architect François Hébert Stevens, and utopian architect Paul Maymont.
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01
Charming grove with a view
After passing under an arch of laburnum and white wisteria, discover the hedged farmland of the Couesnon valley through a window cut into a bower. The name of this grove is in keeping with the tradition of literary puns in vogue in the 17th century. Sculpture by M. Salavize
02
The fern grove
Numerous deciduous and evergreen ferns thrive in the shade of the Magnolia Grandiflora. This grove reminds us that the Domaine de la Ballue, located in the Pays de Fougères region, attracted many master glassmakers and was home to a royal glassworks in the 19th century.
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The attrape grove
Bosquet with "surprises", designed in the purest spirit of the 17th century, sculpture by M. Salavize.
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The undulating gardens
A superb chessboard of boxwood, yew and holly topiaries, set against a luminous carpet of alchemilla. Between 4 and 5: "the henhouse": a remarkable group of figurative boxwood topiaries.
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The scented grove
A three-lobed room made of hornbeams, a green room with a central pool dedicated to fragrant plants.
06
The "knee joint"
The place in the garden where the two broken diagonals meet, a remarkable game of shadows and perspectives.
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The mysterious grove
A tunnel of greenery between the shafts of the cypress trunks and the play of shadows cast on the ground.
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The green theatre
A magnificent semi-circular space, open to the sky and acting as a veritable theatre, entirely planted.
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The Diane temple
A temple of greenery designed on the model of Nicolas Ledoux, with remarkable double views over the diagonal Baroque garden.
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The linden alley
A fine 70-metre long line of lime trees with canopied canopies. Views over the Couesnon valley.
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The musique grove
A green room designed for listening to birdsong and the sound of the wind in the leaves.
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The labyrinth
Inspired by a sketch by Le Corbusier, it is a place within a place. Questioning the inherent logic of the garden and the overall perception.
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The whysteria alley
A double row of yew columns and 22 arching wisteria make for a spectacular, fragrant stroll.
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The classical gardens of F.Herbert
It emphasises the architectural harmony of the façade of the Château Louis 13. This regular parterre is part and parcel of the landscape, an integral part of the décor. It is ideally designed to be seen from the residence.
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The Venus door
Monumental topiary separating the Jardin Régulier from the Jardin des Douves.
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The moat garden
Situated in the western moat of the former fortress of the Marches de Bretagne, this new landscaped garden offers another way to explore the boxwood collection, the pond and the nursery.
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The main courtyard
A regular garden with lots of flowers, highlighting the north facade of the Château Louis 13. Bordered on the west by 3 large lime trees over 250 years old, it is punctuated by 6 large Versailles orange tree boxes.
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Tearoom and Boutique
A lovely tea room for a relaxing moment, and a pleasant shop with a fine selection of books on gardens, scented candles and regional products...
Our environmental approach
In addition to the impeccable quality of the services provided to its guests every day, Château de la Ballue offers tourist accommodation that takes into account the environmental impact of the establishment.
Our commitment to responsible tourism at Château de la Ballue
Tourism, more than any other activity, requires a well-preserved environment, and consumers looking for eco-friendly holidays are increasingly demanding.
In addition to the impeccable quality of the services provided to their customers every day, Château de la Ballue offers tourist accommodation that takes into account the environmental impact of the establishment. Reducing energy and water consumption, managing waste and buying local products are key elements of this commitment. Find out more about our environmental policy and our commitment to eco-responsible tourism. Thank you for joining us. We remain at your disposal for any suggestions or further information.
ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY & COMMITMENT TO ECO-RESPONSIBLE TOURISM
Our commitment :
Château de la Ballue is keen to make an active contribution to preserving the environment and is aware of the environmental challenges facing the tourist industry. Through its environmental policy, the Château is committed to developing sustainable tourism within this 17th-century historic monument that respects and preserves the natural, cultural and social resources of the site and the region over the long term.
In order to reduce its ecological footprint through continuous improvement of its environmental performance and with the aim of providing quality services for its customers, the establishment has set itself the following objectives:
Our environmental approach :
As part of its approach and in pursuit of its objectives, Château de la Ballue has implemented the following measures in particular:
Consumption of electricity produced 50% from renewable energy sources,
Use of low-energy light bulbs,
Radiators fitted with thermostatic valves.
Installation of flow regulators on all equipment for economical water consumption,
Bins to facilitate waste sorting and composting,
Use of eco-labelled products for our cleaning products, provision of Ecolabelled, Ecocert and BIO-labelled hygiene products in the rooms,
Alternative management of part of our green spaces to encourage biodiversity (Bois des Bouleaux and Prairies des Douves).
Protection of birds (LPO refuge label)
Ecological management of the Jardins de la Ballue (no insecticides, no weedkillers, mulching, controlled watering with spring water and rainwater recovery, introduction of beehives),
Inviting our customers to join us in our approach by means of messages to raise awareness of eco-actions (sorting waste, turning off lights when leaving the room, turning off the heating if the window is open, etc.).
We encourage our customers to let us know of any suggestions they may have to help us improve our environmental approach.
In addition to the impeccable quality of the services provided to their customers every day, Château de la Ballue offers tourist accommodation that takes into account the environmental impact of the establishment. Reducing energy and water consumption, managing waste and buying local products are key elements of this commitment. Find out more about our environmental policy and our commitment to eco-responsible tourism. Thank you for joining us. We remain at your disposal for any suggestions or further information.
ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY & COMMITMENT TO ECO-RESPONSIBLE TOURISM
Our commitment :
Château de la Ballue is keen to make an active contribution to preserving the environment and is aware of the environmental challenges facing the tourist industry. Through its environmental policy, the Château is committed to developing sustainable tourism within this 17th-century historic monument that respects and preserves the natural, cultural and social resources of the site and the region over the long term.
In order to reduce its ecological footprint through continuous improvement of its environmental performance and with the aim of providing quality services for its customers, the establishment has set itself the following objectives:
- Reduce energy consumption and promote renewable energies,
- Optimise water consumption,
- Limit waste production and ensure that it is sorted and recycled as effectively as possible,
- Encourage the use of renewable resources and substances that are less harmful to the environment,
- Continue to develop the use of local and farm produce, etc
- Promote environmental communication and education.
- Study the possibility of changing the school's heating system to geothermal energy.
Our environmental approach :
As part of its approach and in pursuit of its objectives, Château de la Ballue has implemented the following measures in particular:
Consumption of electricity produced 50% from renewable energy sources,
Use of low-energy light bulbs,
Radiators fitted with thermostatic valves.
Installation of flow regulators on all equipment for economical water consumption,
Bins to facilitate waste sorting and composting,
Use of eco-labelled products for our cleaning products, provision of Ecolabelled, Ecocert and BIO-labelled hygiene products in the rooms,
Alternative management of part of our green spaces to encourage biodiversity (Bois des Bouleaux and Prairies des Douves).
Protection of birds (LPO refuge label)
Ecological management of the Jardins de la Ballue (no insecticides, no weedkillers, mulching, controlled watering with spring water and rainwater recovery, introduction of beehives),
Inviting our customers to join us in our approach by means of messages to raise awareness of eco-actions (sorting waste, turning off lights when leaving the room, turning off the heating if the window is open, etc.).
We encourage our customers to let us know of any suggestions they may have to help us improve our environmental approach.
