Trace the history of Dordogne's only French gardens. The art of French gardens culminated in the 17th century with the work of André Le Nôtre for the Château de Versailles, whose genius inspired the courts of Europe for a long time to come. It was on this model that the gardens at Hautefort were designed in the time of the Marquis Jacques-François. They feature the order and symmetry typical of the classical style, with the traditional plant sculptures (known as topiaries) recalling elements of the château's architecture. Today, continuing to combine passion and expertise, our gardeners skilfully shape these 3 hectares of formal gardens, combining traditional methods with rational management of the landscape heritage.

Inherited from the 17th century, the formal gardens of Hautefort underwent a complete overhaul in 1853 at the request of Baron Maxence de Damas. He commissioned the Comte de Choulot to draw up an ambitious plan that reflected his desire to integrate the château, gardens, park and surrounding landscape into a coherent and valuable whole. The former forecourt was laid out as formal gardens, with lawn parterres bordered by flowerbeds. Another ordered parterre was created at the foot of the courtyard terrace. The transformation of the gardens continued in the 20th century under the Baron and Baroness de Bastard.

The gardens at Hautefort have an atypical layout: perched on a rocky spur, they offer a breathtaking view of the surrounding landscape, which they majestically dominate. An exceptional panorama opens up over the green valleys of the Dordogne. Designed in keeping with classical aesthetics, this geometric garden enhances the majesty of the château and naturally guides the eye towards the horizon. From the square courtyard, the view stretches out over an undulating landscape of forests, meadows and an uninterrupted view of the Petite Cité de Caractère e Hautefort. This enchanting setting, a blend of nature and heritage, is a perfect illustration of the harmony between architecture and the environment. The colours of the landscape change with each season, offering an ever-changing spectacle. A place of inspiration and contemplation, the Hautefort estate invites you to immerse yourself in the history and beauty of the Périgord region.

Hautefort is more than 3 hectares of boxwood beds punctuated by surprisingly shaped topiaries, pruned entirely by hand twice a year. This represents more than 1,800 hours of work every year. A more unusual feature is the planted pergola, a long tunnel of greenery almost 70 metres long, where you can cool off. The huge espalier of magnolias overlooks the Hautefort flowerbed, made up of 10,000 boxwood plants... 20 years is the time it takes for them to reach a height of 40 cm.

The château de Hautefort Foundation is firmly committed to preserving natural resources and has been implementing a policy of sustainable management of its green spaces for several years. For example, 100% of boxwood pruning is carried out using hand shears, and 30% for yew pruning. Shredded plants are used to make mulch, which reduces evaporation and enriches the soil. Particular attention is also paid to water resource management. The boxwood species present at Hautefort, "suffruticosa", was chosen in particular because of its resistance to periods of drought.