Jardin du Prieure St.Pierre
2 rue du Prieure, Reaumur.

The Monastic gardens of the priory of Saint Pierre at Reaumur are only open for a short period each year, but they make a quiet interlude while visiting this part of the Haut Bocage. Very close to the centre of the village and the Manoir de Science this large garden contains centuries old Yew tree which are trimmed every year, the cuttings are collected and sent to a pharmiceutical company where they are used in a cancer drug.
The small court yard inside the entrance gate has to the right the oldest remaining building which date from 1695 and which was the refectory,in front of you are the Loges, built in the 19th century on the site of previous loges that were destroyed by General Westermann and des colonnes infernales along with most of the village in 1794 during the Wars of the Vendee.
There are small informal gardens around the Loges with a wide open terrace  with views over the large gardens and parkland. In the center of the terrace two stone pillars with large white wrought iron gates leads you through an avenue of Yews, inviting you to explore.
As you pass through the gate you will discover to your right a well maintained potager (vegetable Garden) where all the vegetables and soft fruit are grown for the house. As you pass on the avenue of Yews is broken by a second set of white wrought iron gates with a vista into the open countryside, but as you enter you will discover to your right a vast rectangular sunken garden surrounded on three sides by wide grassy avenues and mature trees. Within this area are long rectangular beds with wide grass paths which contain four main groups, The small fruits, the hardy perennials, the condiment & medicinal plants and the ancient or forgotten vegetables. At the far end of the garden under the shade of the trees is a new and extensive collection of Hostas.
Beyond the sunken garden the park descends down to the river Grand Lay and there is pleasant walk, albeit quiet steep, down through the woods to the river and then back up to the gardens.When your back by the house look at the excellent collect of ancient gardening tools in the small potting shed.

Photos of the Gardens


VISITE DU PARC en 2011

Heures de visite : 14 heures à 19 heures

Jours de visite :   le 1er et le 2 Mai : pour le Neurodon
                         3 au 5 juin "rendez-vous aux jardins" 
                         Juin : les Vendredi, Samedi, dimanche
                         Juillet : les jeudi, vendredi, samedi, dimanche 
                         Août : les jeudi, vendredi, samedi dimanche
                         Septembre : les vendredi, samedi dimanche
                         Le reste de l’année sur rendez-vous.

Prix de la visite : 4 € par personne, gratuit pour les enfants de moins de 12 ans,
                          3 € pour les groupes (10 personnes minimum)


Return to find more gardens of the Vendee