The project celebrates the boundless imagination of an extraordinary pair
‘A tribute to their relationship, their love and to all those who love each other’:
Jardin de Nous Deux
A romantic garden of ‘golden’ stone sculptures, hidden at the heart of a private estate in Civrieux-d’Azergues (Rhône), near Lyon, has reopened to the public to fund its ongoing restoration.
Le Jardin de Nous Deux was created by a Frenchman named Charles Billy. He began his project in 1975 at the age of 65, building castles, statues and landmarks that depicted memories from the worldwide travels shared with his wife, Pauline.
“The garden is a tribute to their relationship, their love and to all those who love each other,” reads the Fondation du Patrimoine website.
The memorial garden was created by a Frenchman named Charles Billy
Jardin de Nous Deux
Mr Billy spent 16 years bringing the wonders of the world to his doorstep, from the Parthenon temple to a Tivoli portico, and included nods to cities such as London and Rio de Janeiro.
His creations were built from the orange-tinted stone, also known as pierre de Couzon, that is typical to the region.
The garden measures 1,500m² and was open to visitors in the late 1900s but closed following Mr Billy’s death.
It reopened 20 years later, in the spring of 2023, after a couple purchased the forgotten property and gave the ‘memory village’ a new lease of life.
Since reopening, the garden has become an official ‘geopartner’ of the Beaujolais region’s Unesco Global Geopark label.
Today, members of the public can visit the garden regularly throughout the year, however booking is compulsory. Guided visits cost €8, standard entry is €6 for adults and €4 for children (three-18 years). A special tariff is offered to groups of 10 or more.
Proceeds go towards the further restoration and maintenance of the garden. Donations are also welcomed via the Fondation du Patrimoine website, which at the time of writing has raised over €12,000.
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