The gardens of the Château de Compiègne, a romantic garden

Designed as of 1811 by Louis-Martin Berthault (1770-1823), the Château de Compiègne’s park and gardens marked a radical turn in novel landscape design for an official residence.
Yet, it is important to bear in mind how they were initially shaped following the project devised by Ange-Jacques Gabriel in 1752, then how they evolved over the 19th century. Restored in the late 20th century, in line with Berthault’s project, the characteristics of today’s stratified garden stretch well beyond questions of formality, obliging current managmeent to integrate ecological challenges.

Axel Lefranc is an art historian, specialising in garden art. An Ecole du Louvre graduate, he also holds a Master’s degree in historic gardens, heritage and landscape from the ENSA in Versailles and the University of Paris-Panthéon Sorbonne. Since 2023, he has worked as scientific director in charge of the preservation of the Château de Compiègne’s parks and gardens.