The Renaissance Surge of Pailly
"The French, lost for so long in barbarism, had no notion of gardening or garden decoration before the Century of Louis XIV. It was under the reign of this prince that this art was in part created, perfected by La Quintinie in terms of function, and Le Notre in terms of pleasure..."
Denis Diderot
Amongst the Encyclopaedia's illustrations that come under the theme of "Agriculture, Gardening", are several which offer examples characteristic of French-style gardens. This example "lawn and embroidered parterre" was inspired by the Jardin des Tuileries and the Jardin de l'Infante.
Such gardens could once be seen in grand bourgeois houses, such as the Château du Pailly. "Jewel of the Renaissance", this château was constructed between 1563 and 1573, on the bases of an old fortified château, for the "highly noble and illustrious" Gaspard de Saulx-Tavannes, Marshal of France, and comrade in arms to King François 1st.
Still partly enclosed by moats, the old palace-fortress has one of its façades overlooking a classical garden, ending in a covered walkway shaded by linden trees that have been trimmed to make a canopy. Reinvented in the 19th Century by the Breuil de Saint Germain family, the grand parterre is decorated with a circular basin on which come together 8 median paths that delimit 4 flowerbeds and 4 tapis verts.
The great architectural richness of the Château du Pailly is one of the most prestigious Renaissance masterpieces to have been bequeathed to Champagne-Ardennes.
