The grounds were designed by the school of Le Nôtre.
Large of 196 feet, the formal garden is composed of lawns delimited by four paths. They join at a circular pool, where four enormous cone shaped yews, over 300 years old, shield four stone benches.
It had been said that at the beginning of the century, the benches were in front of the trees, they now seem to have been practically swallowed by the yews.
Opposite the pool there is a semi circular stone staircase that leads up to untamed foliage which used to be a landscaped garden in vogueat the end of the 18 th century
Partial view of the grounds
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Castle's
lane
(Click to enlarge)
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Park from the donjon
On the left: The drawing, dated of the 18 th century, is a project of the actual grounds of the castle. We can still see the two half moons and the central pond.
On
the right: This 18 th century drawing is a project of the main entrance of the
castle at that time, and nowadays the pathway with cluster of trees. The path
measures 845 feet with on each side the stables.
If you arrive by the road of Courpière / Lezoux, under the shade of a forest of oaks, take the little road for over a kilometre. When you will enter the grounds of the castle, you shall discover an outstanding view of the whole of the Limagne plain, the mountain chains of the Dômes and of the Sancy. Lying at the foot of the Puy de Dôme you will see the city of Clermont-Ferrand, and if the weather is clear enough you might catch a glimpse of the spires
of the Volvic stone cathedral.
Vue sur le Puy de Dôme et la Limagne (photo Rémi Julien)
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to enlarge
Le village de Ravel avec son
église gothique ( vaut le detour ).
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