Gardens of Marqueyssac: 150,000 boxwoods, a view from 130 meters and a ticket for 12.90 €

The Gardens of Marqueyssac (Jardins de Marqueyssac) near Vézac are open every day, year-round. An adult ticket costs €12.90 from February 7 to November 11, 2026 (as of 14.09.2026, official garden website).

The garden sits on a cliff 130 meters above the Dordogne River. From the viewing platform you will see the valley with villages, castles, and fields, while below you stretch terraces with waves of clipped boxwood. This is not a museum behind glass, but a living 22-hectare park: more than 6 kilometers of paths and around 150,000 shrubs (according to the garden description).

During the day people wander through the maze, and on Thursdays in July and August the garden is lit by candles.

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What the Gardens of Marqueyssac are and why people come here

💡 In short:

• The gardens are open daily: in summer from 9:00 to 20:00, in February and March from 10:00 to 18:00, from November 12 to late January from 14:00 to 17:00.
• An adult ticket costs €12.90, for children aged 10-17 €6.50, children under 10 enter free.
• Candlelit evenings take place on Thursdays in July and August, online booking only.
• Tickets and opening hours: 14.09.2026, verified on the garden website.

Marqueyssac is a private garden attached to a château. Today it is called the most visited garden in Périgord (according to the gardens page). The main theme here is one thing: boxwood. The shrub grows slowly and lives for centuries, so it holds its shape for years.

From boxwood the gardeners clip waves, spheres, and "green sheep." Besides it, the park grows cypresses, strawberry trees, juniper, pines, and oaks. Along the way you will hide in vine-covered arbors, pause by artificial waterfalls, and rest on benches carved directly into the rock.

For children there are playgrounds, and the ticket price includes a via ferrata route on the cliff (according to the via ferrata section). Dining outdoors is also possible: separate areas are set aside for picnics.

© Johan Allard · CC BY-SAPhoto: Johan Allard, CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0), Wikimedia Commons

History of the Gardens of Marqueyssac

The history of the gardens began in 1692. The plot near Vézac was bought by Bertrand Vernet de Marqueyssac, a royal counselor in Sarlat, and he laid out terraces around the house that are still called the Bastion today (according to the Sarlat tourist office). The layout is attributed to Porcher, a student of André Le Nôtre, the creator of the gardens of Versailles.

© MOSSOT · CC BY-SAPhoto: MOSSOT, CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0), Wikimedia Commons

The castle got its current look from the early 19th-century roof of stone slabs called lauzes (according to the castle's history). Because of these terraces and the roof, the gardens are called hanging: greenery descends the slope in steps, and from a distance it seems to hang off the cliff.

The garden got a second life in 1861. The estate's heir, Julien de Cerval, planted Mediterranean species here: boxwood, stone pines, cypresses, and cyclamens. He worked in the park for thirty years and trimmed the shrubs so their lines followed the valley's relief (according to a review of the gardens' history).

In the 20th century the park fell into neglect and was barely maintained. Kléber Rossillon took on its restoration in 1996, and the gardens opened to visitors in 1997. In the first year alone, about 200,000 people came here (according to an article about the park's restoration).

Today the shrubs once again have the shapes they had under de Cerval: old photographs helped bring them back. A small team of gardeners looks after the park, and they trim every shrub by hand (according to the page on garden care).

What to see at the Marqueyssac gardens

There are no closed-off areas in the park: a ticket opens up all the paths. The main walkway runs through a half-kilometer tunnel of greenery, and the whole network of paths stretches for more than 6 kilometers (according to the path map). The southern part of the garden is drier, so evergreen oaks and Montpellier maples grow there, while the damp northern slope is planted with field maples and hornbeams.

© Thérèse Gaigé · CC BY-SAPhoto: Thérèse Gaigé, CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0), Wikimedia Commons

Along the way you will pass a dovecote with rare pigeon breeds. Peacocks stroll along the paths, and the Nature Pavilion has an exhibition of 19th-century dioramas. Plant labels give details about the varieties, so you will not need a guide. Visitors are offered three routes of different lengths.

The main point of the route is the lookout over the Dordogne. It stands 192 meters above sea level, which is 130 meters above the water (according to Sud Ouest and the valley panorama). From here you can see the river's bend, villages, and the valley's castles, including Château de Castelnaud, which is 3 kilometers away (according to the gardens' official website).

In the evening, the garden looks different. On Thursdays in July and August, the paths are lit with candles and lanterns, classical music plays, and there are activities for children. These evenings run from 7:00 PM to midnight (according to the candlelit evenings page on the gardens' website).

Tickets and opening hours in 2026

The gardens are open year-round, but hours vary by season. Last entry is always one hour before closing (as of 14.09.2026, opening hours).

High season runs from February 7 to November 11 (as of 14.09.2026, official gardens website).

© Père Igor · CC BY-SAPhoto: Père Igor, CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0), Wikimedia Commons

The combined ticket is worth it if you're planning to visit Castelnaud: the second château is 3 kilometers away, and you can visit it within a year (according to the combined ticket terms). Candlelit evenings must be booked in advance: they cost €24 for adults and €12 for children, and spots are limited (as of 14.09.2026, candlelit evening prices).

Tickets to the Marqueyssac Gardens on GetYourGuide

How to get to the Marqueyssac Gardens

The gardens are located near the village of Vézac in the Dordogne department, about 10 kilometers from Sarlat-la-Canéda (according to the tourist office page about the gardens). There is no direct transport to the park itself, so driving is the most convenient option.

If you're coming from Bordeaux or Toulouse, take the train to Sarlat-la-Canéda first, then continue by car. Compare car rental prices in advance so you don't have to look for a car on the spot.

Marqueyssac Gardens on the map

The entrance is near the commune of Vézac, 24220, next to Château de Castelnaud. Open the Marqueyssac Gardens on the map.

⁉️🤔 Frequently asked questions

Do I need to book tickets to the Marqueyssac Gardens in advance?

During the day, no booking is needed: you buy your ticket on site or online, and there is no entry time here (according to the visiting rules). The candlelit evenings have a different rule: places are limited, so they are sold only online and in advance.

How much does entry to the Marqueyssac Gardens cost in 2026?

From February 7 to November 11, an adult ticket costs €12.90, for children aged 10 to 17 it is €6.50, and children under 10 enter free. In winter, from January 1 to February 6 and from November 12 to December 31, an adult ticket is cheaper: €10.90 (as of 14.09.2026, 2026 rates).

When is the best time to visit the Marqueyssac Gardens?

The Italian cyclamens that the garden is famous for bloom from August to October. During these months, the terraces look their most vibrant.

Can I visit the gardens with a dog and eat on site?

Dogs are allowed, but you must keep them on a leash for the entire walk (according to the information for visitors with dogs). You will not go hungry: the restaurant and tea room are open from February 7 to November 11, 2026, and in summer there is a crêperie and a sandwich shop.

What is included in the combined Marqueyssac and Castelnaud ticket?

The combined ticket gives access to the Marqueyssac Gardens and Château de Castelnaud, 3 kilometers away. During the day it costs €24.50 for an adult and €12.30 for children aged 10 to 17, and you can visit the second castle within a year (as of 14.09.2026, combined ticket).

In short: what to book

An evening by candlelight is the main reason to visit the Marqueyssac gardens in July or August. If you have a couple of days in the Périgord, plan your accommodation and route in advance.

If you are going to a Thursday evening event, get your candlelight evening tickets before the trip.

If you are staying in the region for a couple of nights, check out hotels in Sarlat-la-Canéda.

If you are traveling by car, compare car rental prices in advance.

Check your visit date in advance: in high season the garden stays open longer, and Thursday evenings in July and August require a separate ticket.