The Eyrignac Estate takes its name from the Occitan “ey” which means “water”.  Eyrignac is a place where water flows. The Spring-fed Garden celebrates the precious resource without which life cannot thrive in this sun drenched region.

Created in 2013, the Spring-fed Garden evokes both the landscape’s natural poetry and the spirit of the structured French style garden, designed by Patrick Sermadiras, who continues the creative work of his father.

The main avenue subtly arranges its points of interest purposefully along the way.  The transition from shaped to rustic hedges, allows for numerous glimpses of nature and invites you to appreciate the abundant varieties of fruit trees.  The discovery of water in the form of springs is the true ‘wealth’ of Eyrignac.  The scene leads naturally to the Rotunda Orchard planted with pear, apple, plum and cherry trees. This bold amphitheatre of fruit trees fully conveys the idyllic notion of the setting.

From the Spring-fed Garden one looks over the spectacular panorama of the Dordogne hills.

The Topiary Farmyard

Created in 2009, the animal forms are beginning to take shape: goose, ducks, dog, sheep, squirrel, peacock, rabbits sitting, rabbit lying down, hen and rooster.

To fashion a topiary in the shape of an animal, make or purchase a mesh or iron frame that resembles the desired shape. All you have to do is enclose the box plant in the structure at the end of autumn. In the spring, when the shrub begins to grow and protrude through the frame, trim off any excess with shears or scissors.

The gardeners at Eyrignac use only a few bamboo canes to guide the young branches of the boxwood, so that year after year the animal forms take shape.

If you are a beginner, choose compact plants, as well as simple and easy shapes. Curves are more easily obtained than angles.

The new ‘squares’, rural poetry and rustic atmosphere

The Spring-fed Garden is developed year on year and these four new ‘squares’ reveal a colourful and rural world.  These include ……. The ‘Flower Meadow’ with its mixture of flower seeds for honey bees, the ‘Roaming Square’ with its plants in motion, the ‘Inebriated Square’ with its collection of vines and the ‘Daughters of the Wind Square’ an ode to lightness with its selection of grasses. This lyrical and unspoilt setting, in the surrounding landscape, evolves according to the seasons in an open and rustic environment.

In order to preserve biodiversity insect hotels have been installed.  Beneficial insects will comfortably settle themselves in the garden at the beginning of the winter, and they will reward us by naturally combatting pests and ensuring pollination.

The Rotunda Orchard

The central avenue leads to the Rotunda Orchard. A series of fruit trees brings rhythm to the area, with no less than 50 delicious varieties. Amongst these varieties are apples ‘Reine de Reinettes’ (King of the Pippins), juicy pears ‘ Comtesse de Paris ‘ (Countess of Paris) with luscious flesh, fragrant plums of Alsace and the brilliant red cherries ‘Burlat’.

All these trees come in a variety of forms : cordons, standards and bush.