3,000 steps to the King's Gardens
Welcome to the video guide "3000 steps to the King's Gardens" for a royal walk of about 1.5 hours, discovering the Royal Park of La Garenne and the Jardins du Roi in Nérac.
Starting your visit on the castle forecourt, you will discover an emblematic heritage site and walk in the footsteps of the young Henri de Navarre, the future
King Henri IV.
This route along the Baïse river consists of six points of interest, enhanced by signage
, videos, and expert commentary.
- Departure: forecourt of the Château-musée Henri IV
- Elevation gain: 45 meters
- Distance: 2.5 km
- Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes
- Color/marking: interpretive signage
● Stage 1: Henri de Navarre in Nérac
● Stage 2: The three thousand step walkways
● Stage 3: Fountains and stories
● Stage 4: From the Dauphin fountain to the Belle Epoque
● Stage 5: The Baïse river along the towpath
● Stage 6: The King's Gardens
Step 1: Henry of Navarre in Nérac
Henri made Nérac his preferred residence after leaving the French court, where he had been living since his marriage in 1572 to Marguerite de Valois, the famous Queen Margot, sister of King Charles IX...
Step 2: Walkways of 3,000 steps
Here we are in Parc de la Garenne, a 35-hectare park that was the first site in Aquitaine to be listed as a protected area in 1909. In the 16th century, access was restricted to the castle's occupants and was via a private bridge...
Step 3: Fountains & Stories
We are here at the edge of the first park and the three-thousand-step alley. Near the 16th-century Saint-Jean fountain stands a chapel that Henri had built so that his wife could attend mass. It was the only authorized Catholic place of worship in Nérac, away from the castle and a very Protestant town...
Step 4: From the Dauphin Fountain to the Belle Epoque
You may have noticed the Théâtre de Verdure on your left. Performances have been held at this site since the early 20th century, when it was converted into a theater with tiers of seats. In August 1913, it was inaugurated in front of an audience of 4,000 people who came to see Bizet's famous opera Carmen!
Step 5: La Baïse along the towpath
This point is mainly audio! Listen to it as you start your walk of about fifteen minutes to the next stop. Since 2009, the footbridge has connected Garenne Park to the Jardins du Roi, located on this bank. In the 16th century, access to both was only possible via the castle...
Step 6: The King's Gardens
Finally, here is the location of the famous King's Garden, created by Henri's grandfather and updated by him and Margot. The "Renaissance-style garden" you are standing in was created in 2008 to evoke this place...
©2014 – Produced by Éditions Fragile for the town of Nérac.
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