Ha-ha… The public parks of Orne, what a revelation!

Beyond being in interjection to express surprise, ‘Ha-ha’ is also a noun in the specific vocabulary of gardens. In this case, it refers to a deep dry ditch, often walled and that delimits the perimeter of a garden referred to as a park, whenever its surface area is large enough.

To enhance knowledge on public parks and gardens from the late 18th century to the early 21st century, the Orne departmental archives and the Normandy Regional Council inventory department led this original study in association.

This exhibition highlights the historic links between garden art and creation, via a scenographic journey centred on the town of Alençon and covering several stages across the department, notably within its ‘Petites cités de caractère’ (characterful villages label).