Jardin des Moines et Pont coudé

Ornamental garden designed in the 16th century by Pierre de Mareuil, commendatory abbot of Brantôme from 1538 to 1556. Three Renaissance style repositories with an Italian influence decorate its alleys. The writer and chronicler Pierre de Bourdeille, better known as Brantôme, commendatory abbot from 1556 until his death in 1614 and nephew of his predecessor, was very fond of this garden inherited from his uncle. His cousins called him “my cousin of the Bridge” or “Mister of the Orchard”. A right angle-shaped bridge built in the 16th century whose entrance is indicated by an elegant Renaissance style pavilion leads to the garden. Its original shape is due to the necessity of spanning the river Dronne and the canal which run around the city.