Land acquisition 1575 (≈ 1575)
Mathieu de Chalvet bought the rights to Merville.
1743-1759
Construction of the castle and park
Construction of the castle and park 1743-1759 (≈ 1751)
Created by Henri Auguste de Chalvet-Rochemonteix.
11 décembre 1987
Historical Monument
Historical Monument 11 décembre 1987 (≈ 1987)
The castle garden is protected.
2005
Opening the maze to the public
Opening the maze to the public 2005 (≈ 2005)
Label *Remarkable garden* obtained the same year.
janvier 2009
Storm Klaus
Storm Klaus janvier 2009 (≈ 2009)
Significant damage to the park.
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui Aujourd'hui (≈ 2025)
Position de référence.
Key figures
Henri Auguste de Chalvet-Rochemonteix - Marquis and Sénéchal de Toulouse
Sponsor of the castle and park.
Mathieu de Chalvet - Henry Auguste's Oyster
Acquisition of land in 1575.
André Le Nôtre - Landscape
Inspiration of park drawings.
Origin and history
The Merville labyrinth is a plant maze integrated into the Merville Castle Garden, located in the commune of Merville, Haute-Garonne. Created with a fun vocation, it was opened to the public in 2005 and extends over 4 hectares within a park of 30 hectares. This maze of boxwood, known as the largest in Europe, has about 6 kilometres of oak-shaded roads and attracts more than 35,000 visitors each year. He won the remarkable Garden label in 2005.
The castle and its park were designed between 1743 and 1759 by the Marquis Henri Auguste de Chalvet-Rochemonteix, Sénéchal de Toulouse, on lands acquired by his elder Mathieu de Chalvet in 1575. The garden, inspired by the drawings of André Le Nôtre, begins with a terrace in front of the façade of the castle, followed by a 600-metre driveway lined with parasol pines. The castle's garden has been listed as a historical monument since 1987, while the maze was damaged in 2009 during storm Klaus, which deracted some 30 trees.
The park and the maze are part of a tradition of leisure gardens, mixing historical heritage and entertainment. The maze, with its references to the Greek gods, offers an immersive experience while valuing the 18th century landscape heritage. Its success is based on its breadth and harmonious integration into a classified setting, combining nature and history.
