Unusual Gardens of Europe

While most gardens across Europe were developed for traditional purposes and follow common styles of their time period, there are some gardens that break the molds. They are not organized, they were not created for relaxation or functionality, and they are not attached to homes, castles or villas. Unconventional gardens have popped up throughout history: Italy's Bomarzo Sacro Bosco, established in the 16th century, Spain's Park Guell, cultivated in the early 20th century, and France's Jardin Naturel, created in 1995. Each of these gardens has unique features, making them stand out from typical gardens.

The Sacro Bosco in Bomarzo, Italy, is also known as the Park of Monsters. Pier Francesco Orsini designed the garden and Simone Moschino created the sculptures that dominate it. It is a stunning example of Renaissance Mannerism - it pushes feelings on tension and instability on visitors, and this contrasts starkly with art of the High Renaissance.

Sacro Bosco is filled with large, bizarre statues that represent a myriad of mythical figures and stories. They are the primary focus of the park, and a frequently carved out of existing stone. This adds to the mystical quality of the garden and enhances the unusual feeling of the place.

Spain's Park Guell is also a unique take on a public garden. It is located near Barcelona, and it is the site of a failed housing development. The garden is now an expansive display of architecture and modernist design blending cohesively in a pleasure garden. It was designed and created by Antoni Gaudi between 1900 and 1914. Gaudi himself actually lived in a house in the park for 20 years, during and after its construction.

Gaudi used mosaic work and sculpture throughout the garden to create a social atmosphere, as well as incorporate mythological stories and symbols of Catalan nationalism. The park sits on a hill and provides picturesque views of the city of Barcelona.

The most modern of unusual gardens is the French Jardin Naturel, located in the heart of Paris. It was created in 1995 and it is just what the name implies: a natural garden. In contrast with most gardens in Paris, it is not curated meticulously and is not slave to symmetry or any particular structure at all. The garden is free of all human modification and is essentially a meadow in the middle of a city.

It is a haven for birds and insects, and gives the people of Paris the chance to have a little bit of the countryside in their city. Nature has complete freedom in the Jardin Naturel.

Sources:
http://www.parcodeimostri.com/entra.php?lang=eng (Sacro Bosco)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gardens_of_Bomarzo (Sacro Bosco)
http://www.parkguell.es/en/portada (Park Guell)
http://en.parisinfo.com/paris-museum-monument/71113/Jardin-naturel (Jardin Naturel)
http://www.linternaute.com/paris/magazine/dossier/06/paris-au-calme/13.shtml (Jardin Naturel)