The Time of Elegance: Jardin à la Française or French Formal Garden

French formal garden, style Chateau vaux le vicomte
Chateau Vaux le Vicomte

Jardin à la Française or French Formal Garden is a garden design based on harmony and balance born during The Late  Renaissance in France.  There French Landscape Architect named Andre Le Nôtre has received all the credit for The French Formal Garden.  He got the accolade after he was responsible for the transformation of the gardens of The Castle of Vaux le Vicomte, which after that became to be one of the most spectacular Chateau in France of its time.  This Garden design has its origins in Italy during the Renaissance revival.  Andre Le Notre is also responsible for the famous The Petit Trianon’s garden which he designed while working at gardens of Palace of Versailles, the beginning of what is today The Avenue des Champs-Élysées, Chateau Fontainebleau and many other spectacular gardens not only in France but also in England, Italy and Germany.  The landscape architect was a pure genius as you can see… The Jardin à la Française style combines the use of parterre or bed of greens in geometric shapes divided by gravel walkways, topiaries, fountains or pools in symmetrical patterns in an attempt to create a perfect integration to the Architecture of the Chateaus resulting in a perfect perspective view from miles away.

French formal garden style Palace de Versailles
Palace The Versailles

French formal garden style Petit Trianon

Petit Trianon

Below, modern versions of Gardens based on Jandins a la Francaise style.  French Formal Garden style.
French formal garden style
French formal garden style with pool
Cypress tree are among my favorite trees and I’m sure a favorite of many as well.  They represent classic antiquity and elegance at its best…
French formal garden style modern garden
Even is small space symmetry and order can work wonders…
French formal garden style Oscar de la Renta garden
Below, Oscar de la Renta’s famous garden.  Oscar de la Renta was well known for his love to garden…
French formal garden style
French formal garden style boxwood and hedges

4 thoughts on “The Time of Elegance: Jardin à la Française or French Formal Garden

  1. classiq

    It looks incredible! Thank you for all the details, Julie. I can always count on you to learn something new about interior or landscape design or architecture. 🙂
    Ada

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