Informations pratique

Access

Les jardins du Manoir d'Eyrignac

24590 SALIGNAC

The Gardens of Eyrignac are located 13 km north east of Sarlat.
 
Railway stations : Sarlat 13 km, Souillac 20 km, Brive 40 km.
 
Airports : Brive 40 km.
International airports : Bordeaux 200 km.
and Toulouse 190 km.
 
Direct access by A 20 : Brive or Souillac exits.
Direct access by A 89 : La Bachellerie and Terrasson exits.

Contact

Owner: Patrick Sermadiras de Pouzols de Lile

Tel. : +33 5 53 28 99 71

Fax : +33 5 53 30 39 89

contact@eyrignac.com

Services & opening times

from 1^st January to 31^st March : from 10.30 to 12.30 and from 14.30 to dusk.
 
from 1^st to 30^th April : open all day from 10.00 to 19.00 (*).
 
from 1^st May to 30^th September : open all day from 09.30 to 19.00 (*).
 
from 1st October to 31st December : from 10.30 to 12.30 and from 14.30 to dusk.
(* Ticket office closes at 19.00)

Unaccompanied visit or self-guided visit in 4 languages (French, English, Spanish, Dutch), pleasantly rounded off by an exhibition with a film about the art of topiary as practised in the gardens.
 
Restaurant on site (from 1^st April to 31^st October), shady picnic area.
Parking (free of charge in shady area; without manoeuvring for coaches).
 
Authorised landing strip for aircraft and helicopters (accessible by written request).

Tariffs 2008

Individuals	Unaccompanied visit	Self-guided
Adults	8.5 Euros	2 Euros for two audio guides available in
Children (under 7)	Free
Children (from 7 to 14)	4 Euros
Disabled	4 Euros
The entrance ticket grants access to the gardens for the whole day

Virtual Visits

Les jardins du Manoir d'Eyrignac

4 hectares of plant sculptures   This garden filled with greenery, nestling in the heart of Périgord Noir, displays every shade of green: yews, box trees, hornbeams and cypress trees are the main species in the garden. It is the sheer volume of topiaries which creates the essence of Eyrignac: plant sculptures, rooms of greenery, box embroideries, borders in the French style… There seems to be no limit to the diversity of shapes, which nonetheless still remain in harmony with the architectural lines of the Manoir and the area of 200 hectares kept in its natural state which surrounds this jewel of a garden.

History

In my family, the Gardens of the Manoir d'Eyrignac have been handed down by sons and daughters for the past 500 years: 22 generations have followed one another since the first castel or noble dwelling was built.
 
At the time of the Fronde des Princes (the Civil War in the XVIIth Century, when some of the nobility rebelled against Cardinal Mazarin), my ancestor remained in the loyalist camp: in reprisal, the troops of the Grand Condé, Prince Louis II of Bourbon, destroyed the first castel, which dated from the Early Middle Ages. The present Manor house was rebuilt by Antoine de Costes de la Calprenède in the XVIIth Century on the ruins of the former dwelling. The first gardens were designed in the XVIIIth Century on the initiative of Louis-Antoine Gabriel de la Calprenède (the great-grandson of Antoine), who was more blessed by fortune: these were gardens in the French style, inspired by those of the villa of Italy, as taste dictated at that time. They were completely revised in the XIXth Century to follow the new fashion, and thus became an English-style park.

This garden did not correspond with the vision that my father, Gilles Sermadiras, had of Eyrignac. He very quickly had the desire to redesign it just as it must have been in the XVIIIth Century. After thinking about it for a number of years, finally 40 years ago he decided to recreate the garden he had wanted for such a long time. Trusting in his own inspiration he searched the grounds for any trace of the former garden: walls, steps, the former lake etc., and himself designed the garden he had so often imagined, and which reflected his personality.

When the plants were put in, they were all just 20 cm high, yet they already revealed the garden as it is today...

The fate of this “secret garden” now rests in my hands, and every day I try to pay homage to my father's creativity by keeping his work alive with rigour and passion”.

Evénements

• Sunday 23^rd and Monday 24^th March. From 10.00 to 19.00 : Easter Treasure Hunt

  Children who come to Eyrignac for this event will be able to discover the treasure with the help of Sidonie the hen, but they will have to answer the riddles left for them by Pampan the mischievous rabbit.

  Tariffs : 8.50 €, children under 14 free

• Monday 3^rd and Tuesday 4^th May : 4^th annual Orchid Days

  Exhibition and sales in the Orangery of the Gardens of the Manoir d'Eyrignac. Open continuously from 09.30 to 19.00.

  Tariffs : 2 €

• Saturday 31^st May and Sunday 1^st June : All the fun of a treasure hunt : « Find the cache »

  Become a “Finder” for a weekend. Set off in search of some odd treasures subtly hidden in the garden, but watch out - you only have a limited time to find the cache and win the prize inside ...

  Tariffs : 8.50 €, children under 14 free

• Every Monday evening from 14^th July to 18^th August
  From 19.00 to dusk : Picnic in white in the White Garden

  A moment of relaxation far from the madding crowd, amidst the freshness of the fountains and the evening light: as families or with friends, visitors are invited throughout the summer to wear something white and come and share a picnic in the white rose garden.

  Tarifs : 8.50 €, children under 14 free

• Saturday 20^th and Sunday 21^st September : 25^th edition of the Heritage Days event

  For this new edition suggested by the Ministry of Culture, the owner Patrick Sermadiras and his family will open the doors of the XVIIth Century Manor specially to you so you can discover the place at the heart of the gardens which is the soul of Eyrignac.

  Tariffs : Entry free of charge up to 18 years of age

• NEW !!!
  December : Father Christmas's House in Alsace

  Nestled at the bottom of the garden, the former bakehouse will be clad in the colours of the Alsace and radiate Christmas spirit: cakes and gingerbreads, homemade jams, pottery from the Alsace, typical patchworks, Christmas tree baubles and decorations will be on sale to help you prepare for the festivities, along with some lovely well-priced gifts!

  Tariffs : Entry free of charge