THE GARDEN
Decorated by a terrace along the lock, a small pavilion covered with a shingle roof and old box trees, the garden existed already in the XVIIth century. The Banizette Domain also owns a double arched old bridge over the Banize, as well as an ancient fountain in the "Pré de la Font" which looks like an old well and provided the Domain in the past with drinking water.
The very old garden of the Banizette Seigneurie lies in the heart of the estate. It is a garden with flowers and fruits, and it has been created as a place for pleasure with its white water fountain, its belvedere on the reach and its shaded rooms, but time had made it loose part of its attractiveness, which has been restored thanks to the renovation in 1999-2000.
The wild vegetation that surrounded and enclosed it has been cut away and the shut off garden has become an open garden anew. Thus it has recovered a splendid setting with a large view over the green valley Banize and the pastures of the small Coudert valley.
The terrace structure which had subsided onto the reach has been rebuilt. On two levels, it shows to advantage the surroundings with the stretch of water that is stocked with white ducks. The central basin, which had disappeared, has been rebuilt. The water runs down in a cascade from an ornamental bowl that is fed by a water jet.
The belvedere, a promontory which overlooks the terrace and from where one discovers the water stretch of the mill, has been cleared.
The ancient and charming wood pavilion, covered with a shingle roof, has been renovated. Its walls are covered with snakeroot leaves, a very beautiful climbing plant which one can find on the greenery of the Aubusson tapestries.
Today, the garden is arranged around beds that are bordered with stones. They grow some thirty perennial and annual plants that flourish from June till October. Apple, pear and prune trees trimmed in espalier or in half stem, form around the edge, a vertical setting which constitues an important architectural element in the lay-out of the garden. An entire part of the garden is dedicated to red fruits : raspberry, redcurrant and blackcurrant bushes.
THE PATHWAY TO THE TREES
The Pathway through the Trees has been lain out in a wooded area, near the buildings, where 25 different species can be found : Regional leafy and coniferous trees amongst which some beautiful old subjects (oak, chestnut, wild cherry, holly ... Douglas, pectins, spruce, Scotch fir and Weymouth ....)
The most remarkable trees are indicated as well as the different species. The pathway is marked out and enables you to have an interesting and pleasant woodland walk which can take from under half an hour to up to an hour according the the route chosen.
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