The Maze
Set on the second terrace, Villandry’s maze, or labyrinth, is formed of hornbeam hedges, known as charmilles.
It is based on the designs of Renaissance gardens, in which the labyrinth was a crucial element. It is a reference to the Labyrinth thought up by Daedalus to conceal the Minotaur, but it does not have the same meaning. The Greek Labyrinth was a place where men would get lost and endlessly search for a way out in the midst of ambushes and dead ends. In contrast, the Renaissance hedge maze was, in the Christian spirit, a place of progression, where the path taken by the walker symbolised the progress of life and the centre of the maze, on an elevated plane, stood for the encounter with God.
It is located next to the play area. It is located next to the play area.
Virtual tour of the gardens of Villandry
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