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La grotte et les jardins de Noisy by Bruno BENTZ – Château de Bénouville
The Noisy grotto and gardens
The Château de Noisy was built in the late 16th century for the Duke Albert de Gondi, Marshal of Retz and financial adviser for the French royal court. The gardens he had built near Saint-Germain were among the first French terraced gardens, and were adorned with fountains and a magnificent decorated grotto. Acquired in 1675 by Louis XIV, but demolished under Louis XV, the Noisy park remained within the Marly forest. Based on archives, archaeological excavation, undertaken in 2017, unveiled a vast share of the rockery and shell decorations in the grotto.
Bruno Bentz
Bruno Bentz, a doctor in archaeology and President of the OMAGE association is in charge of excavations in Noisy. He is also director of the “Marly art et patrimoine” (Marly art and heritage) magazine.