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The castle's four facades give life to four magnificent perspectives!
The East-West axis: gardens that invite themselves into the residence
The bridle path
Arriving at Bouges from the direction of Vatan/Vierzon, you come face to face with the estate's oldest perspective: the allée cavalière. This four-row plantation of trees (of various species) dates back to the end of the 18th century, at the very end of the château's construction. It announces the entrance to the estate and forms a hedge of honour for guests and travellers.
Some of these trees have suffered from disease, storms and the ravages of time, leaving their mark on the estate, notably with the disappearance of the part closest to the château during the major storm of summer 2001.
© Yann Monel / Centre des monuments nationaux
The main courtyard and the green carpet
The perspective of the bridle path continues through the gate into the courtyard of honour, lined with the mineral embroidery created by the Duchêne family in the late 19th/early 20th century.
It then crosses the château's halls and continues onto a large expanse of lawn (green carpet) embellished with a water buffet. At the far end of the carpet, an ancient walled decorative gateway, decorated with the head of a river goddess, marks the end of this view. This East-West axis is the one given priority to guests.
© Yann Monel / Centre des monuments nationaux
North: regular and natural come together
The French garden
When the Dufours (penultimate owners) called on the Duchêne landscape gardeners at the end of the 19th century, it was to complete the composition of their estate and enhance the buildings they had just restored.
In keeping with the tastes of the period, a regular garden of sculpted boxwood is planted at the foot of the château, framed by eight yew cones. A stone balustrade marks the junction between this French-style garden and the English-style park. This separation also extends along the east-west axis. To access the park from this parterre, an opening is left with two large Medici vases as decoration.
© Yann Monel / Centre des monuments nationaux
The English park
The park is formed from the ancient woods surrounding the château. Over the centuries, it has been worked, pierced by gaps and embellished with meadows, revealing numerous perspectives and viewpoints.
The English-style parks were created to entertain the eye, while letting it believe that everything was natural.
The existence of the pond near the hunting pavilions has been proven since the early 19th century; its size has almost quadrupled today. It creates a mirror of water that reflects the plantations: weeping willows, liquidambars and conifers.
© Château de Bouges / Centre des monuments nationaux
To the south: a view of the estate's active life
At the time of its construction, the château was built on the edge of the village, and the outbuildings naturally formed a boundary between the lower and upper classes. Two courtyards and two buildings separate these worlds, with the courtyard of the outbuildings, the luxury stables and tack rooms, closer to the château, and the farmyard and stables (now the horse-drawn carriage shed).
From the château, this view is partly obscured by lime trees, but you can enjoy it from the housekeeper's bedroom, which is open to the public.
From inside or outside the château, open your eyes and admire these perspectives, which are also part of the charm of the place!
© David Bordes / Centre des monuments nationaux