jacques garcia in normandy

by Sharon Santoni

chateau champ de bataille normandy

 

chateau champ de bataille normandy

There are many great things about living in Normandy, but one of the more amazing features in my part of the woods is the Chateau du Champ de Bataille, that has been lovingly restored, by Jacques Garcia, one of France’s leading interior designers.

chateau champ de bataille normandy

Monsieur Garcia bought the Chateau in 1992 and started the renovation immediately.  Dividing walls were removed to create large reception rooms, and the interiors recreated in 17th and 18th century style.  Part of the chateau is open to the public, and a large part is given over to the owner’s private apartments.

chateau champ de bataille normandy

When the chateau was purchased, the formerly magnificent French gardens were lost.   It’s thought they had been originally designed in the 17th century by André Le Nôtre (who designed the gardens of Versailles), but none of his outlines remained visible.  Instead the chateau was sitting among fields, with a few flower borders near the main buildings.

chateau champ de bataille normandy

After a huge storm in 1993 brought down many trees, the decision was made to redesign and restore the gardens .   Accompanied by the talented garden designer Patrick Pottier, Garcia has tamed and remodelled nearly 250 acres of grounds….. that is a big undertaking.

chateau champ de bataille normandy

Hills were created artificially, trees, vines, topiary planted and the most incredible structure was born. When I visited last weekend, it took me over two hours to walk around the grounds.

chateau champ de bataille normandy

I admire their work, and their vision.   To move from a blank canvas to these fascinating and complex gardens where the visitor can wander through vineyards, past vegetable and cutting gardens; sit in green amphitheatres or take time to enjoy the view in the shade of white wisteria is nothing short of genius.

chateau champ de bataille normandy

This garden is very far removed from my gardening style.  While I am more about mixed borders and tumbling roses, about crowded flower beds, with plants vying for attention and an unruly mix of colours and textures,     Garcia’s garden is in strict 17th century French style.  It is all about taming and controlling nature, about shapes, volumes and perspective.

chateau champ de bataille normandy

Of course I admire their talent and their drive and passion, but maybe what I love most is that in today’s world, where we want instant pleasure, and corners are often cut in the name of economy,  that Garcia and Potter have taken the time to create this grandiose garden and spared neither expense nor energy to achieve their goals.

chateau champ de bataille normandy

If you’d like to see the Champ de Bataille chateau and gardens, it’s about a couple of hours by car from Paris.   More information available here on their website.

chateau champ de bataille normandy

21 comments

Suzanne June 19, 2017 - 12:52 am

Yowza!!!!!!

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Pamela June 19, 2017 - 12:55 am

The Garden’s are so beautiful, but i will have to agree with you it is also not my style. But it most definitely awesome to see and to appreciate the beauty.

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Barbara June 19, 2017 - 1:29 am

The gardens are beautiful!! Sharon we have an opportunity to visit Normandy ànd Paris toward the end of October. Is this a good time weather wise or should we consider rescheduling
Barbara

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Vivien and Bohn smith June 19, 2017 - 2:01 am

Thank you Sharon for sharing this and encouraging us to visit it in May of 2014. It was a quiet day there and perhaps 15 people there!!
What a treasure.
P.s. We loved your gardens as much too. V

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Steven June 19, 2017 - 2:26 am

Stunning. Thank you for sharing.

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Susie Craig June 19, 2017 - 2:29 am

What an amazing project to undertake and so beautiful. I hope I can visit it one day. I have started a Garden History course and was delighted to read about this garden. Thank you for sharing your visit with us.

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Carole Walker June 19, 2017 - 3:06 am

The Wall Street Journal Magazine June/July issue
had an excellent article and photographs on this
chateau which prompted me to gather further information on the Internet. I was astounded to
find that Normandy’s chateaus are so numerous
that the area is divided into four sections!
The article also states that Mr.Garcia “doesn’t want to live like that any more. He wants a change so he is in the process of converting a former monastery in Sicily into a summer home for himself and Mr. Pottier.” Perhaps I can caretaker one or the other when they are absent!

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Colleen Taylor June 19, 2017 - 5:58 am

This is absolutely magnificent Sharon! I can’t even imagine the work involved. Thank you for sharing this treasure which is a must see.

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Susan June 19, 2017 - 8:06 am

Thank you for introducing me to this Chateau and garden. Something special to add to the list of places to visit. -a list so full of unexpected places..

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Taste of France June 19, 2017 - 8:14 am

I love the formality and order of these gardens. Topiaries! Yes! But I could never keep up with it all; my own garden is low-maintenance with lots of perennials. Like you, I admire that Garcia and Potter undertook this renovation/recreation and did it right.

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Danielle June 19, 2017 - 8:24 am

So good to see that the garden is in good order. Monty Don included it in his Gardens of France series but since there has been a lot of online reviews of the garden that it was let go. Clearly its looking fabulous again so I will have to go see for myself this summer!

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Vicky from Athens June 19, 2017 - 11:03 am

Sharon – thank you for sharing these amazing gardens! What a labor of love.

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Sandra @ Maison De Jardin June 19, 2017 - 2:30 pm

Absolutely fabulous – thank you for sharing the beauty !

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Carole Shiles June 19, 2017 - 4:02 pm

Speechless. Breathtaking views. So enjoyed seeing this and very thankful it is not my responsibility.

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Emm June 19, 2017 - 6:14 pm

Not my gardening style, either, but very beautiful. I never thought of it before in terms of French gardens but in looking at your pictures–the precise ornamentation, and the one through the archway to the allée of evergreens–I see a Zen-like quality of calm and precision, extraneous things stripped away. Calming and restful.

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Bonnie Gutierrez June 19, 2017 - 6:19 pm

Beautiful, I could find such peace here! I do,however, agree with others that I appreciate my perennial garden, and it is more my style. Thank you for sharing this masterpiece!

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Madge June 19, 2017 - 8:25 pm

Sharon, your photographs of Chateau du Champ de Bataille and its exquisite grounds are really stunning. Thank you so much for sharing these views. Any chance we will see some of the interiors on your blog at a later time?

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suzanne vigneron June 20, 2017 - 12:38 am

This is absolutely amazing. What perseverance!

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Brenda Chambers June 21, 2017 - 4:57 am

Absolutely beautiful. Thanks for the great post. I could look at it forever.

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The Enchanted Home June 22, 2017 - 1:20 am

What a dream! He is so talented…he decorated my aunts home in the Loire Valley and it is just “beyond”! Like so many other things French, his talent is among the best. Hope you are well Sharon!

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Melinda June 22, 2017 - 10:40 pm

Oh, this is so perfect in every way! So soothing…

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