Photo of Les Jardins du Chateau de Hautefort

Visit Les Jardins du Chateau de Hautefort

The Chateau de Hautefort is in the village of Hautefort in the Dordogne departement of France. The garden is situated in the Dordogne region of France, between Sarlat and Limoges not far from the Lascaux caves.

Explore the gardens of the Chateau de Hautefort

The Chateau de Hautefort is one of the most prestigious castles in the SW of France and Les Jardins du Chateau de Hautefort are a classified historic monument. The gardens are also one of France's classified "Remarkable Jardins".

Chateau de Hautefort

In 1853 le comte de Choulot, a famous landscape gardener of the time, reorganised the gardens into those we see today.

At the foot of the castle, overlooking the village are symetrically shaped parterres on the terraces. Topiaries decorate the parterres and some of these are clipped to represent the domes of the castle. More parterres filled with flowers including some beautiful purple roses surround the castle.

In the spring look out for the espaliered magnolias on the south wall. These are beautiful when in flower.

Advertisement

All in all there are more than three hectares of parterre with 10,000 box plants making up the box hedging. As well as the roses and flowers that fill the parterres the eastern parterre has been planted with traditional vegetables and seeds can be bought in the shop.

A 70 meter long tunnel of thuja has been created and offers some welcome shade in the summer.

Behind the castle there is a thirty hectare park with some superb viewpoints over the valley below. The park is full of mature trees and has some lovely vistas over the castle, the countryside and the surrounding villages.

There are four different circuits that you can take through the park. You can pick up a leaflet with details at the ticket office.

Chateau de Hautefort

The Chateau de Hautefort was used as one of the locations in the film "Ever After" starring Drew Barrymore. In the film the Chateau de Hautefort was Prince Henry's castle. Other locations in the neighbourhood were also used in the film.

Of course the chateau is magnificent and well worth a visit too!

The Chateau de Hautefort takes its environment seriously and has limited its carbon footprint, produced an organic vegetable garden, carefully manages water and energy and holds gardening workshops. These have earned it the first Ecolabel awarded to a cultural site.

Gardens of the Chateau de Hautefort garden guide

The garden is open:

April, May, 10.00 to 12.30 and 14.00 to 18.30, every day

June, July, August, September 10.00 to 18.00 every day

October: 14.00 to 18.00

March and 1 to 11 November, 14.00 to 18.00 weekends and bank holidays.

In the summer the gardens are open on an evening for theatricalised visits.

Visits cost 10 euros for adults and 5.50 euros for under 15s. Under 7s are free.

Address: Chateau de Hautefort et ses Jardins, 24390 Hautefort

Gardens to visit nearby

The Jardins de l'Imaginaire is a beautiful contemporary garden which sits above the town of Terrasson.

The Chateau du Losse and gardens is on a much smaller scale than that of Hautefort but it is very charming and picturesque.

You can find more local travel ideas in the South West France guide,

See also: 

Photos of Les Jardins du Chateau de Hautefort

Click any picture to start the gallery

  • hautefort-(10)
  • hautefort-(17)
  • hautefort-(18)
  • hautefort-(20)
  • hautefort-(23)
  • hautefort-(24)
  • hautefort-1

Map of Les Jardins du Chateau de Hautefort and places to visit

 
Advertisement
 

Les Jardins du Chateau de Hautefort places to visit

Les Jardins de l'Imaginaire

Les Jardins de l'Imaginaire

Les Jardins de l'Imaginaire is a contemporary garden which sits above and has great views of the town of Terrasson.

Les Jardins de l'Imaginaire guide
Le Bouquet garden

Le Bouquet garden

The Le Bouquet garden is a unique garden with 50 different parterres and motifs spread out round a 2km walk.

Le Bouquet garden guide
Chateau de Losse Gardens

Chateau de Losse Gardens

The beautiful Chateau de Losse is surrounded by very simple and stylish garden with lots of clipped box and lavender balls.

Chateau de Losse Gardens guide
Les Jardins de Colette

Les Jardins de Colette

A garden created to celebrate the life of the author Colette

Les Jardins de Colette guide
Les Jardins du Manoir d'Eyrignac

Les Jardins du Manoir d'Eyrignac

Les Jardins du Manoir d'Eyrignac is an incredible garden of topiary shapes and clipped hedges.

Les Jardins du Manoir d'Eyrignac guide
Les Jardins Tranquille

Les Jardins Tranquille

Les Jardins Tranquille is a lovely riverside garden in the stunning town of Brantome.

Les Jardins Tranquille guide
 
Advertisement