Embracing Again the Picturesque Beauty of Chantilly Castle’s Gardens

Text and photos by Chen Chi-Hsiang. Taking advantage of the fine weather during the summer vacation, I visited again the most warm and beautiful Chantilly Castle (Chateau de Chantilly) near Paris. For me, an ambassador of beauty who loves art and gardens, this is the greatest enjoyment in life. Every time I face such paradise-like scenery, I feel inexplicably excited. The unique, elegant, and graceful water mirror garden of Chantilly is not only the most original masterpiece among French gardens but also the work that the master gardener Le Nôtre was most satisfied with; even King Louis XIV could not help but praise it. Indeed, "beauty" is not only healing but also liberates people's bodies and minds. Immersed in the outstanding aesthetic sense of nature and humanities, it awakens the consciousness of life, and happiness rises spontaneously. Indeed, "beauty" has its eternity, reflecting the heart and advancing with the times. In the flowing and illusory path of life, "beauty" remains "beauty," always guiding the mind to enter the profound mystery of existence and the local scenery of life.

Embracing again the picturesque beauty of Chantilly Castle’s water mirror garden evokes memories of my last visit five years ago, when I came here with Master Chen (a Qigong practitioner), his wife, and Mimi to visit the museum, walk in the garden, and have afternoon tea. Time flies like a shuttle; in a blink of an eye, five years have passed. On this holiday with fine weather, I had the opportunity to revisit this beautiful place for a stroll and relax. Embracing again the poetic and unique beauty of Chantilly’s water mirror garden makes me feel deeply happy.

The Renaissance castle garden of Chantilly features a water mirror as its main body, structured with absolute mathematical geometric symmetry. The castle is surrounded by the moat bed with shimmering water reflections, forming a diagonal structure with the water mirror garden. On the terrace, a magnificent equestrian statue of Admiral Anne de Montmorency welcomes visitors. To the left of the platform is the Chantilly Castle Museum, known as the "Little Louvre." The platform offers the best view to overlook the poetic and picturesque panorama of the Chantilly Castle garden. Entering via a grand, wide staircase in the form of a monument (the main axis of the garden), on both sides of the lower part of the staircase are niches containing two fountains each, featuring ancient Roman statues full of musical metaphors. These are accompanied by a large circular water mirror fountain, a series of celebrity statues, and elegantly carved large flower pots.

Straight ahead lies a vast horizon. Symmetrically on both sides are rectangular green lawns framing the water mirror (inside which four small circular water mirrors surround a central octagonal-like water mirror). The frameworks on both sides are shaded by plane tree forests. In the center is a large rectangular water mirror (convex towards the canal). At the very center stands a majestic statue of the Sun King, becoming the core of the entire garden. Across the canal, amidst dense and lush forests, a perspective avenue leads the eye, full of poetry within the stunning geometric forms of blue and green.

Inside the castle moat lies an exquisite flower bed patterned like a large birdcage. Behind the castle is a lush English garden, featuring pastoral scenes with small bridges and flowing water, as well as halls of love. To the left of the water mirror garden is a dense forest, crisscrossed by several avenues and winding rivers. The English garden, with its shimmering water reflections, pastoral scenery, three Norman-style black-and-white farmhouses (one serving as a restaurant), water wheels, waterfalls, sheep or horse herds, resembles Trianon at Versailles. In the dense garden shaded by large trees, one often finds pleasant surprises of hidden beauty. No wonder the King’s gardener Le Nôtre proudly said: "I have created many gardens, but Chantilly is truly my proudest work."