Parc du château de La Ferté Saint Aubin

The castle is built on a huge rectangular terrace, isolated by a moat and cut off from the road by a large lawn. Since 1992, the gardens of the court of honour have recovered their XVIIIth century layout; the lawn squares have been redesigned in the first court, the stable court and the court of honour. The central avenue has been restored and the separation wall between the two castle courts has been reconstructed. Arbour is grown to allow the creation of a training paddock for the horses on the left and a pleasure garden on the right. The park covers 40 hectares, with seven arms of water and several islands that make its special charm. Its creation dates back to 1630. It started then as a formal garden, with great broderie banks at the back of the castle. The channelled waters of the Cosson have isolated some strips of land and created a network of regular and symmetrical parterres, great perspectives with avenues, woods and basins; there is also an orangery. In the XIXth century, under Prince Masséna, the garden was updated to suit the taste of the times. The formal garden behind the castle disappeared, leaving place for a romantic park in the English style. Various tree essences were planted then. The enormous bald cypresses can still be seen on the Ile de l’Ermitage and on the Ile de la Chapelle there is a beautiful araucaria or monkey puzzle tree (“arbre aux singes”). Since 1987, an animal park, an old-style farm and an “enchanted island” with life-size fairytale surroundings have been established in the park to enhance the enjoyment of walks.