Parterre
A formal garden area with low, symmetrical patterns near a house
A parterre is a flat, geometrically arranged section of a formal garden, often placed close to a residence. It uses low hedges, gravel, turf or flowers to form repeating designs, meant to be viewed from above, especially from upper windows of the house.
- Designed to be viewed from upper floors of a house
- Early versions used little or no flowers
- Paths were usually gravel, rarely turf
- Inspired by embroidery and metalwork patterns
- Many were replaced by naturalistic lawns in the 1700s
What is Parterre?
A parterre is a level garden space laid out in precise, repeating shapes using low borders of clipped evergreens, coloured gravel, or turf. Flowers may be included but were often absent in early versions. The design is meant to be seen clearly from an upper floor of the nearby house, with open sightlines and minimal height.
Where does Parterre come from?
The style began in France, evolving from Renaissance knot gardens. Designers like Claude Mollet shaped its early form in the late 1500s, inspired by Italian art. By the 1600s, the scrolling 'parterre en broderie', named after embroidery, became popular in French royal gardens and spread across Europe.
How Parterre is made
Parterres are built on flat ground close to a building, with paths dividing patterned beds. Borders are formed from tightly trimmed boxwood or similar shrubs. Interiors may hold flowers in pots, plain grass (called plats), or coloured gravel like brick dust. Statues or shaped evergreens often mark key points in the layout.
When and where Parterre is used
Originally, parterres served as elegant outdoor rooms visible from the house, suitable for both display and private talk. In grand estates like Versailles, potted flowers were swapped seasonally or even daily. Later, many were removed during the rise of naturalistic English landscape gardens in the 1700s.
Forms of Parterre
The 'parterre en broderie' featured intricate, curving lines resembling embroidery. Simpler 'plats' were plain grass panels, sometimes used for lawn bowling. English versions often emphasized turf over flowers, while continental designs grew more ornate, especially in German and Russian palace gardens.
What Parterre means
Parterres reflect Baroque ideals of order and control over nature. Though few originals survive intact, modern reconstructions, like those at Brühl and Schwetzingen, revive their layouts. The style symbolizes aristocratic taste and the era’s fascination with geometry, perspective, and visual harmony from above.
The flowers of Parterre
Questions people ask about Parterre
What is a parterre?
A parterre is a flat, formal garden area near a house, laid out in symmetrical patterns using low hedges, gravel, turf or seasonal flowers, meant to be seen from above.
Where did parterres originate?
Parterres developed in France in the late 16th century, evolving from Renaissance knot gardens and influenced by Italian decorative arts.
Were parterres always full of flowers?
No. Original 17th- and 18th-century parterres often had few or no flowers; many used only gravel, turf, or clipped boxwood for their patterns.
How were parterres used?
They served as elegant outdoor spaces visible from the house, suitable for strolling and private conversation, since anyone approaching could be easily seen.
Are any historic parterres still around?
No original Baroque parterres survive intact, but several, like those in Brühl and Schwetzingen, have been reconstructed based on historical plans.
Good reading and sources
The facts on this page come from the Wikipedia article "Parterre", written by its contributors and used under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence, and from its Wikidata record (CC0). EveryPhool rewrote the text in its own words, with AI assistance, and compares every page with the article to make sure no passage is copied. It may be reused under the same CC BY-SA 4.0 licence with a link back.
It may contain mistakes. If something is wrong, tell us. Last refreshed 2026-10-03.
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