The gardens of Etretat

Madame Thébault, a famous actress from the turn of the 19th century, was the owner of Villa Roxelane, named in memory of the rebellious wife of Sultan Soliman the Magnificent, whose role she played.

The property offers a splendid view of the Aiguille Creuse and cliffs. In 1905, inspired by the work of the impressionist painter Claude Monet, she planted a tree in her garden and thus created the first area with trees on Falaise d’Amont. This was the first step that would lead, more than a century later, to the creation of the Jardins d’Étretat (gardens).

Gardens celebrating the art of topiary and contemporary creations

In 2016, the internationally renowned landscape architect, Alexandre Grivko, drew inspiration from the flora of the Normandy coastline to revive the villa’s gardens, on an area of less than one hectare. He created a complex, bewitching path of plant sculptures. A collection of contemporary art, which fits in perfectly with the garden’s architecture, sets the rhythm for the visitor’s journey and allows the work of man and nature to intertwine harmoniously.

The Jardins d’Etretat are set out in different spaces, each with its own charm, but united by the same inspiration. This is why, whatever the viewing angle, the impression of the strong unity of an overall design dominates. Finally, the gardens offer the visitor an exceptional opening onto the surrounding landscape, providing an unobstructed view of the sea, beach and cliffs.

In 2019, the Jardins d’Étretat won the European Garden Award (created by The European Garden Heritage Network) in the category “Best restoration or enhancement of a historic park or garden”.