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Garden design

A Japanese aesthetic

The style of the garden is inspired by the great walking parks of the EDO period (early 17th century to late 19th century).

Like a living painting, the landscape has been composed over time and is in constant evolution. It is based on a few major aesthetic principles:

The presence of five essential components: water, minerals, plants, pathways, and follies form a set of Japanese landscapes, from the mountains to the sea.
Perspectives and landscape windows reveal themselves according to the principle of “hidden-revealed” providing the visitor with a progressive discovery of the garden.
The borrowing of landscapes from outside the garden.
Wabi and Sabi, these principles of sobriety and the patina of time are specific to the spirit of the Japanese garden.
The representation of natural or mythical landscapes of Japan: rocky coasts, mountains, waterfalls, islands…

A clock of the seasons and of life

The Parc Oriental of Maulévrier is a garden of transformation where nature is admired as a symbol of time, giving rhythm to the seasons.

With more than 400 species, the vegetation in the Parc Oriental marks the seasons by its variations in colour throughout the year: cherry trees in bloom of white and pink (Hanami) in spring, the shades of green in summer, the blaze of maple leaves in autumn (Momijigari).

As a metaphor for the cycle of life, spring symbolises youth, summer adulthood, autumn the wisdom of old age, and winter evokes a period of rest before the new season. The water flow in the garden from east to west represents the sun’s journey from sunrise to sunset.

A garden full of symbols

The Japanese inspiration

The aesthetics of the Parc Oriental arises from the symbolism that permeates its landscapes. Some elements in the park are typical of Japanese gardens:

The torii and the semi-circular bridges (The Red Bridge: Taïkobashi), highlight the importance and the sacred character of the place.
The Islands of Paradise or islands of the “immortals” represent two symbolic animals in Japan: the turtle and the crane (Tsuru-jima and kame-jima), which embody the harmony between two complementary energies, water and sky, yin and yang.
The Shimenawa, a rope indicating the presence of a Kami (Japanese spirit)
Tree pruning in cloud and transparency

The Japanese lanterns (Ishidôrô), all unique, symbolise the presence of man and knowledge.The Asian elements brought by Alexandre Marcel following the 1900 Universal Exhibition reinforce the symbolism of the garden (temple, Khmer statues, Thoja).

Map

During your walk, perspectives and landscape windows reveal themselves according to the principle of “hidden-revealed” providing the visitor with a progressive discovery of the garden.