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History

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Art Residency

Plan your visit

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OPENING HOURS

History

Gallery

News

Art Residency

Plan your visit

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HISTORY

The story of
Jardins d'Étretat

The story of
Jardins d'Étretat

At the end of the XIX century, Parisians from artistic circles started exploring Normandy, and more specifically Étretat, as a destination for summer retreats.

In 1905, French actress Madame Thébault did not deviate from the fashion but made a rather more original choice of settlement than the city center: she had her villa built on the windy Amont cliff, a dramatic and mysterious setting. She named it "La Roxelane", presumably after one of her favorite historical figures — the legendary wife of Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent.

Inspired by the location where so many artists, from Claude Monet to Jean-Baptiste-Camille Corot, had painted, she decided to create a garden, the first to offer such a breathtaking view of the English Channel and the cliffs of Étretat.

Madame Thébault and "La Roxelane"

Reconsidering the Gardens’ concept

In 2015, landscape architect Alexander Grivko discovered "La Roxelane" and its grounds and revitalized the space by blending historical elements with contemporary architectural and artistic ideas. Over just two years, Grivko transformed the garden to give it the appearance of being half a century old.

To achieve this remarkable transformation, he drew inspiration from the principles of André Le Nôtre, the renowned gardener of King Louis XIV. Le Nôtre, celebrated for his design of the royal gardens and parks of Versailles, created striking visual effects through the use of a limited number of meticulously trimmed plant species.

En 2017, l’architecte paysagiste Alexandre Grivko découvre les vestiges du jardin et décide d’insuffler un nouvel élan au lieu. Il souhaite faire honneur à l'histoire du jardin créé par Madame Thébaut tout en instillant des principes architecturaux plus contemporains. 

En seulement deux ans, Alexandre Grivko est parvenu à créer un ensemble qui paraît avoir un demi-siècle. L'un des procédés mis en œuvre pour réaliser cet exploit a été emprunté à André Le Nôtre, le grand maître classique de l’art des parcs et des jardins, connu du monde entier pour avoir réalisé le jardin royal de Versailles. Pour créer le parc de Versailles en un temps record, Le Nôtre n’a employé qu’une quantité

In line with this approach, Jardins d'Étretat now features impressively scaled plant compositions that evoke the natural features of Normandy. Visitors will find topiary shapes representing "waves of the English Channel," "spirals and marine whirlpools," "sea shells," and "cliffs of the Alabaster Coast."
Balancing the natural beauty of the ecosystem with architectural innovation, over one hundred thousand plants contribute to the gardens' charm throughout the year.

limitée d’espèces végétales; il est cependant parvenu il est cependant parvenu à obtenir des effets visuels exceptionnels grâce à des tailles minutieuses.

L'espace des Jardins d'Étretat regorge ainsi de grandes compositions de végétaux taillés, qui font écho au patrimoine naturel et à l’histoire de la Normandie. Vous y verrez « des vagues de la Manche », « des spirales et des tourbillons marins », « des fermes ostréicoles », « des falaises et des arcs de la Côte d'Albâtre », etc. Entre mise en valeur de la beauté naturelle de l’écosystème et prouesses architecturales, près d’une centaine de milliers de plantes assurent aux Jardins leur beauté tout au long de l’année.

@Claudia Gaupp

An open-air art space for creative endeavors

Collaboration with artists is at the heart of Jardins d'Étretat's identity. Since their inception, the gardens have been a welcoming venue for the works of over 50 artists, hosting exhibitions, artistic residencies, concerts, and performances. These events have created a vibrant network connecting creators, the gardens as a living ecosystem, local communities, and visitors from around the world.

Jardins d’Étretat's mission reflects a dynamic approach to fostering the artistic and cultural development of the region. It nurtures creativity and encourages interdisciplinary exchange; by forging connections between local organisations and specialists from diverse fields, including artists, gardeners, and researchers, Jardins d'Étretat becomes a place for complex dialogue.

@Matteo Carassale