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The Hazelnut Path
 
 

An intriguing vault of vegetation winding below the Pine Wood… Cool and mysterious in summer, the hazelnut path is covered in a joyful carpet of bulb flowers, but what also draws people to it is the rustic archway at its entrance—a mineral “folly,” inspired by the rocaille aesthetic, evoking a picturesque (and baroque) appreciation of ancient ruins.

  • Festival Jardins William Christie 2019 4104 Julien Gazeau

    L'Arche rustique (© Julien Gazeau)


    L'Arche rustique (© Julien Gazeau)
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    Allée des noisetiers (© Jay Qin)


    Allée des noisetiers (© Jay Qin)

The Hazelnut Path, in William Christie's words:

"Stones are a key element of my garden. They point to an appreciation of ruins and a natural extravagance that was hugely popular in 17th- and 18th-century France and Italy. There are many rocaille elements at Versailles as well, not only in the garden groves but also in paintings by landscape artists such as Hubert Robert, whose the “Le Louvre en ruine” was a source of inspiration for this rustic archway."

William Christie

 Plan JWC Allee Noisetiers