Middle Europe

ntiquity, the period of the thriving development of all arts and sciences, is followed by the medieval epoch – a time of a global setback, which affected the art of gardening too. The breakdown of the Roman Empire caused by the breakdown of the slavery system gradually led to the establishment of a new social order – feudalism. Economy developed on the basis of natural agriculture. Crafts and commerce fell off which was followed by an overall decay of urban life and building. 

The destruction of cities and monuments of the ancient culture is associated with the barbarian invasions. The influence of Christianity that had spread in the masses increased greatly in return. Along with the feudal lords, the church and the monasteries took hold of the land and the people who lived on it. In order to survive the numerous raids, cities locked up behind the fortified walls and thus, lost any opportunity to develop naturally. All of those areas, not yet built up, were in fact built up, so, public parks and gardens from the past simply disappeared. 

The first medieval gardens were created in monasteries and castle courts. Monastery gardens comprised three major types:

• orchard where some decorative trees were planted among the others
• vegetable garden which provided food and herbs
• flower garden – the flowers served for decoration of the altars.

The canals that were used for irrigation and supplied the breeding-pond (a pool with a round or polygonal shape) usually separated the different parts of the garden.
Gardens were divided in quadrangular beds and enclosed by wooden or iron bars. Later, they were called parquets or parterres. A gothic fountain or a well, surrounded by benches, rose in the center. 
Gardens were built outside the walls of the castles as well. A flowerbed with a round shape, the so-called wheel, was placed in the middle; green vaulted tunnels encased the alleys. Grapevines crept up the walls; shrubs were trimmed as in the Roman gardens. Swans swam in the ponds sometimes. 
The number of plants and flowers in particular was limited: they were mostly grown for food or medical needs. The abundance of containers placed near the buildings is also very typical along with the maze, one of the most valued elements during all epochs that followed. 

The end of the Middle Ages is marked by a significant revival of the art of gardening. The troubadours (13th century AC) already sang about splendid gardens with rose and jasmine tunnels, parterres with colorful flowers lined with lemon and orange trees. 

A typical example from those times were the gardens from a castle called Eden in North France which was most famous for its “entertainment gallery”. Well-hidden hydraulic machines provided various water traps and tricks for the guests. Among the surprises were fountains, which suddenly started spraying water in front of the visitors, and artificial trees with hundreds of birds on them from whose bills water started flowing unexpectedly in order to make wet the ones sitting in the shade. Another characteristic feature of late medieval gardens were the freely wandering decorative animals: peacocks, roes, swans and others. Some gardens even had cages with lions and other wild animals. 

The composition of the early medieval garden was geometrical, usually with quadrangular parterres. Limited in space and isolated from the surrounding nature, they represented quite simple works of the art of gardening. 

Later, vegetation became more abundant and diverse. The color design of the flower parterres is characterized by strong contrasts and richness of shades which resemble stained glass in a cathedral.