Bishop's Garden (Jardin de l'Évêché)
About Bishop's Garden (Jardin de l'Évêché)
The Bishop's Garden is a 17,500 m² French-style garden located behind the former Episcopal Palace and Saint-Pierre Cathedral in Lisieux. Dating back to 1459, this tranquil green space was redesigned in 1837 and is said to have been originally laid out by André Le Nôtre, the landscape architect behind Versailles. The garden originally consisted of three sections: the parterre, the cascade garden, and the Crown garden. Today visitors can enjoy shaded pathways, a bandstand from 1880, a children's playground, and a fountain with water jets. The garden also houses the city's War Memorial and a monument honoring local Resistance networks from 1940-1944. Entry is free and the main access is from Place François Mitterrand near the cathedral, with an accessible entrance available on Boulevard Carnot. Note that summer hours extend to 21:30 (May-September) while winter hours end at 19:30 (October-April).
Interesting Facts
The garden's original extent was far larger than what exists today. The Bishop's Gardens once stretched from Place Clemenceau all the way to the Frémont Institute. What visitors see now is the preserved parterre section of this once-grand episcopal estate.
The 1880 bandstand (kiosque à musique) in the garden is one of the few original structures still standing in Lisieux after World War II. The city suffered extensive bombing in June 1944, with over 75% of its historic center destroyed.
Planning Your Visit
Opening Hours
Location & Practical Info
Address
Boulevard Carnot, 14100 Lisieux, France
Website
https://www.ville-lisieux.frDay Routes
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