Anyone who re-visits Rennes-le-Chateau in 2011, will notice a few changes.
Tobi and Gerda's cafe garden has been revamped and updated. The work includes a new roof over the undercover seating area.
Perhaps long overdue is the restoration of Bérenger Saunière's Tour Magdala garden, which has had the look of neglect for the past few years. The majority of the large trees will remain though, to offer shade for the tourists in the hot summer months.
Abbé François Bérenger Saunière ( 1852 - 1917 ) |
After the priest's grand building scheme had almost been completed, in 1907 he commissioned a set of 33 postcards that featured images of l'abbe Saunière’s Rennes-le-Château domain, including his gardens, the Hautpoul Château, and some nearby views.
Visit this link for information or to purchase a complete set of l’Abbé Saunière's 33 Rennes-le-Chateau Postcards
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Included below are some of Saunière's commissioned postcards from my collection, a later edition of postcards covering the Rennes-le-Chateau area and further afield, and some old photographs, which would have been used as guides to restore the garden as much as possible to how Sauniere originally designed it.
View of the Tour Magdala from the Villa Bethania circa 1907
View of the Villa Bethania from the Tour Magdala a few years later
Two sets of eleven steps leading up to the terrace with a fountain in between circa 1907
Sauinere's Orangery still under construction with the church on the right circa 1907
Two photographs dated early 1900's and 1965, showing the progression of growth in the garden
Saunière on the Terrace with some workmen circa 1907
2008 Photographs
Left - View towards Tour Magdala 2008 and Right - View towards the Orangery 2008
View towards the Villa Bethania
First Exclusive Photographs of the Sauniere's Garden Restoration February 2011
As you can see from these photographs, all shrubs and plants have been removed
Paths are being formed with gravel to outline the flowerbeds before planting begins
View of the garden from the car-park
May 2011 - Restoration continues with the re-roofing of the terrace. Perhaps something is planned for the rooms underneath
More photographs will be posted as soon as the work has been completed
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