Timeline

Key figures

Origin and history

The Gardens of the Thiré Building are built around a 17th century mansion located in the commune of Thiré (Vendée). This house, called The Building, has been listed as a Historic Monument since 1985 for its structure, while its gardens were registered in 2007. The estate also extends over the neighbouring commune of Saint-Juire-Champgillon, crossing the Smagne River. These landscaped spaces combine Mannerist influences and Arts & Crafts, an artistic movement that promotes craftsmanship and harmony with nature.

Acquired by conductor William Christie in the 1980s, the site was transformed between 1986 and 2005 into a set of thematic gardens: a high garden (geometric floor), a low garden (charmille and vegetable embroidery), a secret garden inspired by cloisters, a rose garden, a vegetable garden, and a water room. Inside the mansion, neo-baroque decorations painted between 2000 and 2004 complete this work combining music, architecture and botany. The project is part of Christie's desire to create a place where art and nature interact, reflecting her passion for heritage and historical gardens.

The gardens are labeled Remarkable Gardens and open to the public, offering an immersive experience in both historical and contemporary settings. Their design is based on rigorous aesthetic principles, while integrating elements of meditation and contemplation. The visual perspective, protected by the 2007 decree, underlines the landscape importance of the site, which dominates the surrounding valleys. The domain thus embodies a synthesis between French architectural heritage and modern artistic creativity.

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