Jardin du Musée Pierre Corneille - Maison des Champs

In Petit-Couronne, a town of the Seine Valley located a few kilometres only from Rouen, there is the Country House Maison des Champs, a museum dedicated to the famous playwright Pierre Corneille. This former farm has belonged to the writer and now displays original collections from the 17th century. Its garden, planted with a kitchen garden and fruit trees, displays species grown in Corneille's time over 0.5 acres.

The entrance to the Maison des Champs is through a magnificent wooden door. I entered and I immediately travelled back to the 17th century. I discovered a splendid kitchen garden adjoining the house. How beautiful and bright! Although the Maison des Champs is part of the urban landscape, the height of the walls surrounding the property cuts us completely off from the modern world. The garden is nicely designed and there are little places to relax. Black chairs and tables with a very modern design provide a great contrast with the setting, I loved it! A pretty stone well is used a container for colourful flowers. I gladly sat down on one of the chairs to make the most of this view in the shade of a tree.

The kitchen garden has a geometric design and several rectangular beds stretch along the main path. I walked under several arches planted with flowers, it was magical. I then discovered the kitchen garden and the fruit trees. The name of the varieties are written on small black slates, which filled my curiosity. Sweet smells came to me and I recalled childhood memories when I was tending to the kitchen garden with my grandparents. I sat down on a bench located at the back of the garden and took in the view: in the foreground, the kitchen garden planted with species used in the 17th century, and further away, the half-timbered house. In this green setting in the heart of the city, I felt serene and more especially in tune with this place steeped in history and beauty.

As a heritage lover, I walked towards the building, this much talked about museum. I had to visit the interior of this house and immerse myself in the atmosphere of the time! Unfortunately it was closed on the day I came, I would have to come back.