A few meters from the Iton, in the heart of Evreux (Eure), the former seminary became prefecture in 1824 was razed in 1940 by German bombing. Rebuilt in 1957, the contemporary residence became in 1960 the official residence of the prefects of Eure and their families after the transfer of the offices to Boulevard Georges-Chauvin. Today owned by the departmental council of Eure, the 800 m2 residence contains in its living rooms superb tapestries, Empire style furniture and rare objects. It is especially surrounded by a huge park of 11,000 m2, the second largest in the city, which will exceptionally open its doors on June 3 and 4 as part of the national operation "Rendez-vous aux jardins".
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"Visitors will be able to discover magnificent trees including the master of the place, a purple beech more than 200 years old," says Claude Hilger, the park's gardener for 35 years. In this green lung, with a few colleagues, he will welcome visitors without an appointment "to show them that a garden is thought. You have to imagine how big the trees will be in relation to others and also in relation to the house or buildings, he explains. It also takes time to get a park like this. » Illustration in the field: yews, maples, poplars from Italy, the blue cedar of the Atlas or the tulip tree of California rub shoulders with huge lawns, bamboos, pipes, but also 1900 pansies and 800 tulip bulbs.
A biodiversity reserve with wild ducks, insects and hedgehogs
"I plant them in the fall and the 900 plants needed for the large flower beds are planted in the spring." In the center, there is the pond with its bridge, built by the hands of man thanks to a deviation of the Iton. "Over the years," reveals the gardener, "and because I have not used phytosanitary products for a long time, the park has once again become a biodiversity reserve where there are many birds, including wild ducks, insects, hedgehogs. " And where Micheline, Tartine, Chocolatine, Licorice and Coco also frolic the chickens saved or offered to the various prefects, as well as Cocou, the fighting rooster.
"Here, it's a place to live in the heart of Evreux," insists Claude Hilge. We respect the environment: two tanks buried in 2010, likely to hold 15,000 liters, collect rainwater for watering. This Saturday and Sunday families will be able to freely visit the garden of the prefectural residence or accompanied by the gardener. They can also participate in flax sowing or planter planting workshops (only on Saturdays).
"This opening was requested as part of the departmental program," says Simon Babre, prefect of Eure. It seemed like a good idea to take advantage of this event, while about sixty gardens are open to the public in the department. This one is central. It is an opportunity for the general public to discover a place that lives around official ceremonies. » The park, as well as the residence, will then reopen their doors during the European Heritage Days
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