|
Parc Saint Blancard, a gem from the romantic era.
 The recently rediscovered magnificent Parc Saint Blancard, situated in the Gers départment, together with its gothic revival listed chateau, combine to make a balanced ensemble reflecting the architecture and landscape design of the Napoleon III period. Parks of this magnitude (123 acres) and complexity, are scarce in France, and particularly so in the Midi-Pyrénées region.
The park retains its original layout, which immediately makes it of national importance. Its value further lies in the arrangement and organisation of the landscaped grounds that take their inspiration from the site’s dramatic topography. Enchanting views were created through the planting of majestic trees, the introduction of stretches of water with fountains, interwoven groves and copses, an exceptional parterre, as well as through careful design and positioning of an orangery, stables and follies – indeed, a formidable legacy from the eminent landscape designer Edouard André (1840-1911)
The threat today: a vast apartment project
 A developer now wants to build numerous small holiday apartments, which will destroy an essential section of the park. For now only the first phase is under consideration, but, promising little of prestige, it gives us a clear idea of the impact of the project as a whole. If we do not act, in 10 years the park will have totally disappeared, and, in its place there will be a mass of seasonally occupied apartments.
Urgent campaign to protect the park
The park is currently very vulnerable as the developer has obtained a building permit.
Help us to save the park, please sign this petition. You can download a printable PDF Acrobat version of the petition by , also you can print this page, sign this petition and send it to : la Sauvegarde du Gers, 32450 Sémézies Cachan:
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- Because nowadays parks are considered to be an inheritance to be preserved
- Because the current policy of the Minister for Culture is one of protecting, valuing and restoring parks and gardens
- Because Parc Saint Blancard is a local and national heritage
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Alternatively, you can sign the petition here on line. Due to French law you then have to sign the text in French, if you click on the link below it will take you to the French version of the above text. There you can sign online with the confidence that your information remains confidential and that we do not use any cookies.
|
To sign the petition click below
|
|
To send a donation to help save the Park, click below
|
A new petition is currently being prepared and will be available here within the next few days
|
|
|
This site has been set up by the ‘Park Saint Blancard working group’ who work under the auspices of the Sauvegarde du Gers en Gascogne, (loi 1901), association. The aim of the association is to campaign against projects that purports to bring economic progress to the local economy whilst they destroy our heritage, be it built or natural, and our quality of life. If you are able to support our work with a donation to save the park it will be gratefully received. You can pay here on line by clicking on the "Make a Donation button above, or send a cheque made out to la Sauvegarde du Gers, 32450 Sémézies Cachan. Thank you in advance for your kind support.
| 