Coming to Acquigny

I hopped off the train yesterday in Gaillon-Aubevoye, once again looking for someone who seemed to be looking for someone. It’s just as confusing as it sounds. To my surprise, I met Madame d’Esneval herself at the station and another American intern from the French Heritage Society. Lisa is from the Chicago area and has been in France since January doing a semester abroad at the Sorbonne. I think her French is much better than mine, but my accent might be better. My French is okay, but because of the good accent people will ask me complicated questions where I have no idea, and then Lisa will answer.

Chateau d’Acquigny is beautiful! It’s been in the d’Esneval family for something like 400 years, and the park and gardens are in a romantic style. They have 1 gardener for 15 hectares of property, and I have no idea how he manages it. Adrian is a great plantsman and is doing a specialty in gardening and botany. From what I understand, it’s more like having the more scientific horticulture degrees in the states, while just a gardening job in France has less specific training. 

Voila! Chateau d'Acquigny.

The town bridge as seen from the estate.

La cascade.

Super cool oriental plane tree!

Le potager (kitchen garden)

I don't think I've ever seen so much espalier in one place in my life.

The hay from the overgrown lawn goes to feed their cows!
But the cows are somewhere else...

I was super excited about the orangerie...
until I found out what I would have to do here.

The magic-maker himself! Adrien.