We were in Pezenas today with our current visitors (beau frere Brian and belle soeur Beth) at their huge Brocante Fair- at which we bought nuttin’ but they managed a nice garden table- when Síle decided to drive home on a whim via the village of Margon which has a remarkable chateau in its heart.

If we go cross country to Thezan it is on our route and-even though the chateau is closed to the public- is interesting to walk around.
As Brian and Beth are both archaeologists we thought they might like to see it.

We were strolling around the castle and I was photographing the still stained wall under a medieval privy when a pleasant lady of the village stopped to chat.
(Something not at all uncommon in France)
She told us that now the garden and part of the house was open and we only had to ring the bell to get a tour.

When we got to the front we discovered that the park of the Chateau was indeed now open and now it had a government sign saying it was “One of the Most Remarkable Gardens in France” furthermore we discovered that free guided tours were available should we ring the bell.

Now this struck me as bizarre, we had just walked all around the castle and, frankly, there was no room for a garden, however remarkable.

Inside however we were shown a little of the castle, a nice frescoed music room and a tiny chapel with my favourite saint in flagrante.

Then we were brought again out of the castle.
(Giving us a chance for another look at the gargoyles)

Pleasant enough monsters under the windows.

But some truely nasty pieces of work elsewhere.

We were then brought in through a door under a tunnel by one side of the chateau (through we had previously passed without a thought) into a really magical garden.

We discovered that the steps from the chateau to the park went over this tunnel.

It was huge, walled and had just about everything, lawns, a maze, herbs and vegetables, a swimming pool, an olive orchard.
It seemed to stretch for miles and yet remained within the village.

A truly magical secret garden.