At the end of the 4th century. the brilliant era of antiquity with its sciences, art, architecture ended its existence, giving way to new era- feudalism. The period of time spanning a thousand years between the fall of Rome (late 4th century) and the Renaissance in Italy (14th century) is called the Middle Ages, or the Middle Ages. This was the time of the formation of European states, permanent internecine wars and uprisings, the time of the establishment of Christianity.
In the history of architecture, the Middle Ages are divided into three periods: early medieval (IV-IX centuries), Romanesque (X-XII centuries), Gothic (late XII-XIV centuries). Change architectural styles does not significantly affect park construction, since during this period the art of gardening, which is the most vulnerable of all types of art and more than others requires a peaceful environment for its existence, suspends its development. It exists in the form of small gardens at monasteries and castles, that is, in areas relatively protected from destruction.
The Middle Ages, which lasted almost a thousand years, did not leave exemplary gardens, did not create its own gothic style garden architecture. A gloomy, harsh religion left its mark on the life of the peoples of Western Europe and dulled the joy of perceiving the beauty expressed in gardens with beautiful flowers.
Gardens first began to appear only in monasteries. The fundamental principle and model of all gardens, according to Christian ideas, is paradise, a garden planted by God, sinless, holy, abundant with everything that a person needs, with all types of trees, plants, and inhabited by animals living peacefully with each other. This original paradise is surrounded by a fence beyond which God banished Adam and Eve after their fall. Therefore, the main “significant” feature Garden of Eden- its fencing; the garden is most often referred to as “hortus conclusus” (“fenced garden”). The next indispensable and most characteristic feature of paradise in the ideas of all times was the presence in it of everything that can bring joy not only to the eye, but also to hearing, smell, taste, touch - all human senses. Flowers fill paradise with color and fragrance. Fruits not only serve as a decoration equal to flowers, but also delight the palate. Birds not only fill the garden with singing, but also decorate it with their colorful appearance, etc.
Monastery Garden– its layout and the plants in it were endowed with allegorical symbolism. The idea of possibly re-creating the Garden of Eden on earth arose from the time when monasteries arose, refuges from the bustle of earth. The garden, separated by walls from sin and the intervention of dark forces, became a symbol of the Garden of Eden. Later, with the spread of the cult of the Mother of God in Catholic Europe, the garden became an allegory of the Virgin Mary, a symbol of her purity and virginity.
As a rule, monastery courtyards, enclosed in a rectangle of monastic buildings, adjoined south side churches.
The monastery courtyard, usually square, was divided by narrow paths crosswise into four square parts (which had a symbolic meaning - the cross formed by the paths was supposed to remind of the torment of Christ). In the center, at the intersection of the paths, a well, a fountain, and a small pond were built for aquatic plants and watering the garden, washing or drinking water. The fountain was also a symbol - a symbol of purity of faith, inexhaustible grace or the “tree of life” - tree of paradise- a small orange or apple tree, and also a cross was installed or a rose bush was planted. Every detail in the monastery gardens had a symbolic meaning to remind the monks of the basics of divine economy and Christian virtues.
Often in the monastery garden there was a small pond, where fish were bred for fasting days. This small garden in the courtyard of the monastery there was usually small trees– fruit or decorative and flowers. Small orchard inside the monastery courtyard was a symbol of heaven. It often included a monastery cemetery.
According to their purpose, the gardens were divided into apothecary gardens with all kinds of herbs and medicinal plants, kitchen gardens With vegetable crops for the needs of the monastery and orchards .
Monasteries at that time were, perhaps, the only place, where medical care was provided to both monks and pilgrims. The cultivation of medicinal plants became an important concern of medieval gardeners. The apothecary garden was usually located in the courtyards, next to the doctor’s house, the monastery hospital or almshouse. Herbaceous medicinal and ornamental plants, and plants that could serve as dyes were grown in it. Blooming and aromatic plants imparted beauty to apothecary beds. But different is beautiful flowering plants not many were bred in the Middle Ages. There was not enough room for them in gloomy castles and cramped cities. On small patches of land, sparingly illuminated by the sun due to high walls and roofs, only a few favorite plants were grown - roses, lilies, carnations, daisies, irises.
Since there were few gardens in the Middle Ages, the plants grown were highly valued and strictly protected. Evidence of how much attention was paid to gardens and flowers in the Middle Ages is the rescript of 812, by which Charlemagne ordered the flowers to be planted in his gardens. The rescript contained a list of about sixty names of flowers and ornamental plants. This list was copied and then distributed to monasteries throughout Europe. Gardens were cultivated even by mendicant orders. The Franciscans, for example, until 1237, according to their charter, did not have the right to own land, with the exception of a plot at the monastery, which could not be used except for a garden. Other monastic orders were specifically engaged in gardening and vegetable gardening and were famous for it. Certain laws were also established against those who spoiled or destroyed plants. According to the law of the time, a person who spoiled a grafted tree risked having his toes burned. And sometimes the person guilty of damaging someone else’s garden was nailed to a pillory, cut off right hand and condemned to eternal exile.
The main features of the monastery type of gardens were their privacy, contemplation, silence, and utility. Some monastery gardens were decorated with trellis arbors and low walls to separate one area from another. Among the monastery gardens, the St. Gallen (or St. Gallen) Garden in Switzerland was especially famous.
The Monastery of St. Gall, now located in the Swiss city of St. Gallen, was one of the largest Benedictine monasteries in Europe in the Middle Ages. It was founded in 613 by St. Gall. The monastery library of medieval manuscripts has been preserved here, which numbers 160 thousand items and is considered one of the most complete in Europe. One of the most interesting exhibits is the “Plan of Saint Gall”, compiled in the beginning. 9th century and representing an idealized picture medieval monastery(this is the only one architectural plan, preserved from the early Middle Ages).
In 1983, the monastery of St. Gall was included in the list of monuments World Heritage as "a perfect example of a large Carolingian monastery".
Garden labyrinth- a technique that was formed in the monastery gardens and took a strong place in subsequent park construction. Initially, the labyrinth was a pattern, the design of which fit into a circle or hexagon and led in complex ways to the center. In the Middle Ages, the idea of labyrinths was used by the church. For repentant pilgrims, spiral mosaics were laid out on the floor of the temple. winding paths, along which believers had to crawl on their knees from the entrance to the temple to the altar to atone for their sins. So, from performing the tedious ritual in the church, they moved on to cheerful walks in the gardens, where they moved the labyrinth, where the paths were separated by high walls of trimmed hedges. From such a labyrinth there was, as a rule, only one or two exits, which could not be so easily discovered. Occupying a small area, this labyrinth created the impression of an endless length of paths and made it possible to take long walks. Perhaps secret hatches were hidden in such labyrinths underground passage.
Subsequently, labyrinth gardens received widespread in regular and even landscape parks in Europe. In Russia there was such a labyrinth Summer Garden(not preserved), the regular part of Pavlovsky Park (restored) and Sokolniki Park, where its roads looked like intertwined ellipses inscribed in the spruce massif (lost).
Cloister(from lat. Claustrum- closed place) - a covered bypass gallery framing a closed rectangular courtyard or internal garden of the monastery. Typically, a cloister is located along the wall of a building, with one of its walls being blank and the other being an arcade or colonnade. The open courtyard itself, surrounded by a gallery, is often called a cloister.
In the Middle Ages, the courtyard of the cloister certainly had a well in the center, from which paths branched off, dividing the courtyard space into quadrants. The cloister was usually attached to the long southern façade of the cathedral. One of the first images of the cloister can be seen on the plan of the monastery of St. Gallen in Switzerland. The cloister was the center of life of the monastery, its main communication center, a place of meditation and scientific work. The cloister played a significant role as a place for ceremonial processions at Easter or Christmas.
Related information.
At the end of the 4th century. the brilliant era of antiquity with its
completed her career in sciences, art, and architecture
existence, giving way to a new era of feudalism.
Period
time,
numbering
millennium between the fall of Rome (end of the 4th century) and
the Renaissance in Italy (XIV century), called
the Middle Ages, or the Middle Ages. It was
time
formation
European
states,
constant internecine wars and uprisings, time
affirmations of Christianity.
In the history of architecture, the Middle Ages are divided into
three periods: early medieval (IV-IX centuries),
Romanesque (X-XII centuries), Gothic (late XII-XIV centuries). Changes in architectural styles are not significant
is reflected in park construction, since during this period
gardening art, which is the most
vulnerable of all forms of art and more than others
requiring peaceful existence for its existence
situation, suspends its development. It
exists in the form of small gardens at monasteries and
castles, i.e. in territories relatively
protected from destruction.
The Middle Ages period, which lasted
almost a thousand years, did not leave exemplary gardens, did not
created his own Gothic style of garden architecture. Types of gardens:
1.
2.
3.
4.
Monastery Garden
Castle gardens or feudal gardens
“Meadows of Flowers” – for tournaments and social fun
"Gardens of Love" Medieval gardens in Europe have shrunk significantly
sizes compared to the ancient ones, their
appointment. Decorative, walking gardens have become large
rarity and have shrunk to tiny areas sandwiched among
powerful walls of feudal castles and monasteries. These gardens
were mainly used for growing fruit and
medicinal plants. Monastery Garden
The gardens started first
arise
only
V
monasteries.
Medieval
monasteries
represented
are centers of science and
art
feudal
peace. Being relatively
protected
from
destruction
in
time
numerous
medieval wars and civil strife they became centers in
which were maintained and, to some extent, developed,
park art. Here semantics were developed
concepts perfect garden- paradise. Monastery gardens were compositionally associated with
architecture of the buildings surrounding it and were filled
symbolism reflecting the knowledge of God by the human soul -
The Garden of Eden is a garden planted by God, sinless, holy,
abundant in everything that a person needs - this is an indispensable and
characteristic feature is the presence in the garden of everything that can
bring joy not only to the eye, but also to hearing, smell, taste,
touch - all human senses. Flowers fill paradise
colors and fragrance. Fruits serve not only as decoration,
equal to the colors, but also delight the taste. Birds not only announce
the garden by singing, but also decorate it with their colorful appearance, etc.
This original paradise was surrounded by a fence, behind which
God expelled Adam and Eve after their fall. Therefore the main
A “significant” feature of the Garden of Eden is its enclosure.
Such a garden was often called "hortus conclusus" - "closed garden". Limited area determined small dimensions
monastery gardens. They were characterized by a rectangular
layout of leveled courtyards, closed from
surrounding "sinful world". Garden layout and plants in
it, were endowed with allegorical (religious) symbolism. Garden,
separated by walls from sin and the intervention of dark forces, became
symbol of the Garden of Eden.
The monastery courtyard, usually square, was divided into narrow
paths crosswise into four square parts (which
had a symbolic meaning - a cross formed by paths,
was supposed to remind of the torment of Christ). In the center, on
at the intersection of paths, a well or fountain was built, like
a symbol of purity of faith and inexhaustible grace.
Often the central place was occupied by the “tree of life” or
“tree of knowledge” – tree of paradise – small orange
tree or apple tree - a symbol of the loss of the paradise state -
a symbol of the unity of good and evil, for the fruits of good and evil grow on it
evil. According to their purpose, the gardens were divided into apothecary gardens with
all kinds of herbs and medicinal plants, kitchen
gardens with vegetable crops for the needs of the monastery and fruit
gardens. A small orchard inside the monastery courtyard was
symbol of heaven. It often included a monastic
cemetery. Monasteries at that time were, perhaps, the only
a place where medical care was provided to both monks and
and pilgrims. Cultivation of medicinal plants has become
an important concern of medieval gardeners. Pharmaceutical
the vegetable garden was usually located in the courtyards, next to
a doctor's house, a monastery hospital or an almshouse. IN
Both medicinal and ornamental plants were grown there.
plants, as well as plants that could serve
dyes. Flowering and fragrant plants brought
the beauty of apothecary beds. But beautiful flowering plants
not much was bred in the Middle Ages, there was not enough for them
places in gloomy castles and cramped cities. On small
patches of land, sparingly illuminated by the sun due to high walls
and roofs, only a few favorites were grown
plants... In the herb gardens grew lilies, gladioli, rosemary, mint,
sage, rue and others useful species plants, which also
they were also beautiful. The aesthetic principle was present in
everything that was in the garden, and here you could also find beds
with vegetables, fragrant herbs, flowers,
berry bushes, fruit trees- all this happened
necessary for monks who had their own household and
provided themselves with everything they needed.
It is noteworthy that the healing properties of plants in early
The Middle Ages was defined very simply: it was believed that
the plant itself, by its shape, shows which organs or parts
it heals the body. For example, wormwood, which looks like a curl, was thought to be a remedy for headaches; hairy dill and asparagus
help strengthen hair; roses and daisies, several
resembling the eye, cure eye diseases; sorrel,
similar to a tongue, it heals, and the lily of the valley with flowers,
resembling a drop, is an excellent remedy for paralysis... Since there were few gardens in the Middle Ages, grown
plants were highly valued and strictly protected. Certificate
how much attention was paid to gardens and flowers,
serves as a rescript of 812, in which Charlemagne ordered
about the flowers that need to be planted in his gardens. Rescript
contained a list of about sixty flower names and
ornamental plants. This list has been rewritten and
then spread throughout monasteries throughout Europe.
Certain laws were also established against those
who spoiled or destroyed plants. According to the law
time, a person who spoiled a grafted tree was threatened
burning your toes. And sometimes the one guilty of damaging someone else's
gardens were nailed to a pillory, their right hand was cut off and
condemned to eternal exile. The main feature of the monastery type of gardens was their
solitude, contemplation, silence, utilitarianism.
Some monastery gardens were decorated with trellis
gazebos, low walls to separate one area from
another. Among the monastery gardens, the St. Gallen Garden in Switzerland was especially famous.
Monastery of Saint Gall, located in the Swiss
city of St. Gallen, was in the Middle Ages one of the largest
Benedictine monasteries in Europe, founded in 613 by St.
Gallom.
The monastery library of medieval times has been preserved here.
manuscripts, which has 160 thousand storage units and
reputed to be one of the most complete in Europe. One of the most
interesting exhibits is the "Plan of Saint Gall",
compiled at the beginning of the 9th century and representing
an idealized picture of a medieval monastery (this
the only architectural plan surviving from the early
Middle Ages). "Plan of Saint Gall" Plan of the medieval monastery of St. Gall
1. The doctor's house.
2. Garden of medicinals
plants.
3.
Monastic
courtyard - cloister.
4. Orchard and
cemetery.
5. Vegetable garden.
6.
Household
ponds. Cloister (from Latin Claustrum - closed place) - covered
a bypass gallery framing a closed rectangular courtyard
or the inner garden of the monastery. Usually the cloister was located
along the wall of the building, while one of its walls was blank, and
the second was an arcade or colonnade. Often a cloister
They also called the open courtyard itself, surrounded by a gallery. In the Middle Ages, the cloister courtyard certainly had
in the center there was a well, from which there were paths dividing
yard space into quadrants. The cloister was usually attached
to the long southern façade of the cathedral. One of the first images
The cloister can be seen on the plan of the St. Gallen monastery in Switzerland.
The cloister was the center of life of the monastery, its
main communication center, place of meditation and scholarship
work. The cloister played a significant role as a place
solemn processions at Easter or Christmas. The labyrinth garden is another technique that was formed in
monastery gardens and took a strong place in
subsequent park construction.
If the Romans used the labyrinth motif in decoration
mosaics and frescoes, Christians turned it into a symbol
obstacles to salvation. Labyrinths were often found in
interior of churches. In the Middle Ages for penitent pilgrims
on the floor of the temple, mosaic spirally winding paths were laid out, along which believers were supposed to
walk on your knees from the entrance to the temple to the altar along all the bends and
turns of the labyrinth. This punishment was imposed for
atonement for their sins for those who could not commit
pilgrimage to holy places. In the future, from performing a tedious ritual in
church labyrinths have turned to walks in gardens, where paths
separated by walls of trimmed hedges.
Occupying a small area, such a labyrinth created
the impression of an endless length of paths and gave the opportunity
take long walks. They say in such labyrinths
the hatches of the secret underground passage were hidden. Maybe,
This is exactly the kind of labyrinth Jeff Saward wrote about in his book
“...the labyrinth is perceived as an island of calm in
chaotic world, a quiet place intended for reflection and
contemplation. The winding path of the labyrinth invites
visitor to clear your mind, refresh your soul, moderate your ardor,
slow down..." Labyrinth gardens Subsequently
labyrinth gardens
received
wide
distribution in regular and even landscape parks in Europe.
In Russia there was such a labyrinth in the Summer Garden (not preserved), in
regular part of Pavlovsk Park (restored) and the park
Sokolniki, where its roads looked like intertwined ellipses,
inscribed in the spruce massif (lost). Modern labyrinth gardens Castle gardens or feudal type of gardens.
Gardens in castles had a special character. Feudal
the gardens, unlike the monastery ones, were smaller,
located inside castles and fortresses - were small
and closed. Flowers were grown here, there was a source -
a well, sometimes a miniature pool or fountain, and almost
always a bench in the form of a ledge covered with turf - a technique
which subsequently became widespread in
parks. They had covered alleys of grapes,
rose gardens, apple trees were grown, as well as flowers planted
in flower beds according to special designs. Castle Gardens Castle Gardens
were
usually
under
special
supervision of the hostess
castle
And
served
small
an oasis
peace of mind
among
noisy
crowds
inhabitants
castle,
filled
his
yards.
Here
same
were grown
How
medicinal herbs,
and poisonous, herbs for decoration and having symbolic
meaning. Special attention devoted to fragrant herbs. Their aroma answered
ideas
O
heaven,
delightful
All
feelings
person, but another reason for them
cultivation was that
castles and cities, due to
low sanitary conditions,
were full of bad odors. IN
medieval gardens were planted
roses taken by the crusaders
from the Middle East.
In the first centuries after the fall of the Roman Empire, roses
Europe, classified as pagan, wicked, sinful
luxury were destroyed, and only a century later again
appeared in the gardens. Plants with valuable
healing
properties
become in the Middle Ages
basis
spirits
And
cosmetic
funds.
Such kindergartens were called
gardens of “scientific women”,
who invented the first
aromatic drugs. IN
countries
Europe
V
Middle Ages people almost
didn't wash and to beat off
smell, smeared themselves
odorous
mixtures
from
dozens of ingredients, so
the first perfumes appeared. “Sweet-smelling” plants were grown - roses, lilies,
primroses, violets, cornflowers, - not only for use in
rituals, decorations, but even in foods. Violets were added
in salads. Primrose, violets, rose petals and hawthorn in
mixtures with honey and sugar constituted a favorite delicacy.
First mention of flower garden roses and violets
dates back to approximately 1000. It was at this time that such decorative
elements such as flower beds, trellises, pergolas, there is a fashion for
potted plants. Aromatic plants, flowers and exotic indoor plants were grown in pots.
plants that came to Europe after crusades.
More extensive gardens were created at the castles of large feudal lords
not only for utilitarian purposes, but also for recreation. Near the defensive fortifications of the castle,
“meadows of flowers” – gardens for tournaments and social fun. Big
fame
enjoyed
gardens
Emperor Charlemagne
(768-814), they were divided into
utilitarian and “funny”.
"Funny"
gardens
decorated
lawns,
flowers,
low
trees,
birds
And
menagerie.
In the late Middle Ages
“gardens of love” appeared:
gardens intended for
love
privacy,
dates, and also just for
rest
from
noisy
court life. Such gardens were in
small pools in the center
For
bathing.
Here
played music, had conversations,
read
books,
danced
played various games.
Nice image
such
"garden
love"
preserved in miniature
"Garden of Pleasures" Young
people bathe in the Fountain
Youth", drinking wine and
enjoying
music.
Joint
bathing
V
small pools for men
and women quite often
depicted in medieval
miniatures. Bathing together
small
swimming pools
men
And
women
enough
often
depicted
V
medieval
miniatures: apparently
there was nothing in it
amazing in conditions
"municipal"
life
medieval castles and
cities where solitude
was welcome, but not
always available. Basic
objects
gardening
art
Middle Ages:
- monastery gardens
- internal cloister gardens,
- pharmaceutical gardens,
- fruit (paradise) gardens,
- labyrinth gardens
- feudal gardens
- decorative and utilitarian gardens,
- amusing gardens,
- pleasure groves (flower meadow and garden of love).
The Middle Ages were characterized by the use of achievements
ancient natural science and theory of gardening art and
their further improvement. We can highlight the following
peculiarities
gardening
construction
Middle Ages:
geometric layout of internal gardens; privates
planting and pruning trees; labyrinth; symbolism. Laboratory and practical work No. 3
"Plan of the medieval monastery of St. Gall."
style features:
5. Vegetable garden.
6. Economic ponds.
axial construction;
usage
symmetry;
formation
closed
compositions
main elements:
1. The doctor's house.
2. Garden of medicinals
plants.
3. Cloister.
4. Orchard and
cemetery
Library of the Swiss Monastery of St. Gall was included in the list of UNESCO monuments in 1983. About 2,000 medieval manuscripts are kept here, but only one of them prompted the inclusion of the library on the UNESCO list - the earliest plan of a medieval monastery that has survived to this day. Here it is: 
Created in 819-826, the unique plan has been perfectly preserved to this day. Its purpose still remains a mystery. As experts suggest, most likely, it was not a fixation of the real state of affairs in the monastery, but some kind of ideal model to follow. There are 333 inscriptions on the plan, allowing you to identify in detail all parts of the monastery: the cathedral, garden, school, services, etc. 
This copy of the plan shows all the "garden" parts of the monastery:
X is a vegetable garden, “under” which is the gardener’s house, Y is an orchard combined with a cemetery, Z is a garden of medicinal plants.
Thanks to the inscriptions, we can find out what grew in each of them.
In the garden of medicinal plants - sage, watercress, rue, caraway, iris, lovage, pennyroyal, fennel, peas, marsilia, costo (?), fenegreca (?), rosemary, mint, lilies and roses.
In the orchard there are apples, pears, plums, mistletoe, bay, chestnuts, figs, quinces, peaches, hazelnuts, amendelaris (?), mulberries and walnuts.
In the arcaded courtyard adjacent to the cathedral (cloister), divided into four parts by paths, juniper grew.
And on this wonderful website http://www.stgallplan.org/en/index.html you can see the most the smallest details plan and read (using the transcript and English translation) all 333 inscriptions! And of course, learn a lot more about the plan of the monastery of St. Gall.
At the end of the 4th century. The brilliant era of antiquity with its sciences, art, and architecture ended its existence, giving way to a new era - feudalism. The period of time spanning a thousand years between the fall of Rome and the Renaissance in Italy is called the Middle Ages, or the Middle Ages. The change in architectural styles does not significantly affect park construction, since during this period the art of gardening, which is the most vulnerable of all types of art and more than others requires a peaceful environment for its existence, suspends its development. It exists in the form of small gardens at monasteries and castles, that is, in areas relatively protected from destruction. The Middle Ages, which lasted almost a thousand years, did not leave exemplary gardens and did not create its own Gothic style of garden architecture. A gloomy, harsh religion left its mark on the life of the peoples of Western Europe and dulled the joy of perceiving the beauty expressed in gardens with beautiful flowers. Gardens first began to appear only in monasteries. The fundamental principle and model of all gardens, according to Christian ideas, is paradise, a garden planted by God, sinless, holy, abundant with everything that a person needs, with all types of trees, plants, and inhabited by animals living peacefully with each other. This original paradise is surrounded by a fence beyond which God banished Adam and Eve after their fall. Therefore, the main “significant” feature of the Garden of Eden is its enclosure. The next indispensable and most characteristic feature of paradise in the ideas of all times was the presence in it of everything that can bring joy not only to the eye, but also to hearing, smell, taste, touch - all human senses. The monastery garden - its layout and the plants in it, were endowed with allegorical symbolism. The garden, separated by walls from sin and the intervention of dark forces, became a symbol of the Garden of Eden. As a rule, monastery courtyards, enclosed in a rectangle of monastic buildings, adjoined the south side of the church. The monastery courtyard, usually square, was divided crosswise into four square parts by narrow paths. In the center, at the intersection of the paths, a well, a fountain, and a small pond were built for aquatic plants and watering the garden, washing or drinking water. The fountain was also a symbol - a symbol of purity of faith, inexhaustible grace or the “tree of life” - the tree of paradise - a small orange or apple tree, and a cross was also installed or a rose bush was planted. Often a small pond was built in the monastery garden where fish were bred for fasting days. This small garden in the courtyard of the monastery usually had small trees - fruit or ornamental trees and flowers. A small orchard inside the monastery courtyard was a symbol of paradise. It often included a monastery cemetery. According to their purpose, the gardens were divided into apothecary gardens with all kinds of herbs and medicinal plants, kitchen gardens with vegetable crops for the needs of the monastery, and orchards. Monasteries at that time were perhaps the only place where medical care was provided to both monks and pilgrims. On small patches of land, sparingly illuminated by the sun due to high walls and roofs, only a few favorite plants were grown - roses, lilies, carnations, daisies, irises. Since there were few gardens in the Middle Ages, the plants grown were highly valued and strictly protected.
The labyrinth garden is a technique that was formed in monastery gardens and took a strong place in subsequent park construction. Initially, the labyrinth was a pattern, the design of which fit into a circle or hexagon and led in complex ways to the center. In the Middle Ages, the idea of labyrinths was used by the church. For repentant pilgrims, mosaic spiral winding paths were laid out on the floor of the temple, along which believers had to crawl on their knees from the entrance to the temple to the altar to atone for their sins. So, from performing a tedious ritual in the church, they moved on to cheerful walks in the gardens, where they moved a labyrinth, where the paths were separated by high walls of trimmed hedges. From such a labyrinth there was, as a rule, only one or two exits, which could not be so easily discovered . Occupying a small area, this labyrinth created the impression of an endless length of paths and made it possible to take long walks. Perhaps in such labyrinths the hatches of a secret underground passage were hidden. Subsequently, labyrinth gardens became widespread in regular and even landscape parks in Europe. Castle gardens or Feudal type gardens Gardens in castles had a special character. Feudal gardens, unlike monastic ones, were smaller in size, located inside castles and fortresses - they were small and closed. Flowers were grown here, there was a source - a well, sometimes a miniature pool or fountain, and almost always a bench in the form of a ledge covered with turf - a technique that later became widespread in parks. They arranged covered alleys of grapes, rose gardens, grew apple trees, as well as flowers planted in flowerbeds according to special designs. The castle gardens were usually under the special supervision of the mistress of the castle and served as a small oasis of calm among the noisy and dense crowd of castle inhabitants that filled its courtyards. Both medicinal and poisonous herbs, herbs for decoration and those with symbolic meaning were grown here. In medieval gardens they planted decorative flowers and bushes, especially roses taken by the crusaders from the Middle East. Sometimes trees grew in the castle gardens - lindens and oaks. Near the defensive fortifications of the castle, “meadows of flowers” were set up for tournaments and social fun. It is at this time that such decorative elements, like flower beds, trellises, pergolas, a fashion for potted plants appears. Spicy aromatic plants, flowers and exotic plants were grown in pots. indoor plants that came to Europe after the Crusades. At the castles of large feudal lords, more extensive gardens were created not only for utilitarian purposes, but also for recreation. Gardens of the late Middle Ages were equipped with various pavilions; hills from which one could look at the surrounding life outside the garden walls - both urban and rural. During this period, labyrinths, which were previously common only in the courtyards of monasteries, also spread. The paths of garden labyrinths are surrounded by walls or shrubs. Judging by the frequent images gardening work, the gardens were carefully cultivated, the beds and flower beds were enclosed in stone protective walls, the gardens were surrounded either by wooden fences, on which images of heraldic symbols were sometimes painted, or by stone walls with luxurious gates.
The fundamental principle and model of all gardens, according to Christian ideas, is paradise, a garden planted by God, sinless, holy, abundant with everything that a person needs, with all types of trees, plants, and inhabited by animals living peacefully with each other. This original paradise is surrounded by a fence beyond which God banished Adam and Eve after their fall. Therefore, the main “significant” feature of the Garden of Eden is its enclosure; the garden is most often referred to as “hortus conclusus” (“fenced garden”). The next indispensable and most characteristic feature of paradise in the ideas of all times was the presence in it of everything that can bring joy not only to the eye, but also to hearing, smell, taste, touch - all human senses. Flowers fill paradise with color and fragrance. Fruits not only serve as a decoration equal to flowers, but also delight the palate. Birds not only fill the garden with singing, but also decorate it with their colorful appearance, etc.
The Middle Ages saw art as a second “revelation” that revealed wisdom, harmony, and rhythm in the world. This concept of the beauty of the world order is expressed in a number of written works of the Middle Ages - in Erigena, in the “Sex Days” of Basil the Great and John Exarch of Bulgaria and many others. etc.
Everything in the world had, to one degree or another, a multi-valued symbolic or allegorical meaning, but the garden is a microcosm, just as many books were a microcosm. Therefore, in the Middle Ages, a garden was often likened to a book, and books (especially collections) were often called “gardens”: “Vertograds”, “Limonis”, or “Limonaria”, “Prisoned Gardens”, etc. The garden should be read like a book, extracting from it benefit and instruction. The books were also called "Bees" - a name again associated with the garden, for the bee collects its honey in the garden.
As a rule, monastery courtyards, enclosed in a rectangle of monastic buildings, adjoined the south side of the church. The monastery courtyard, usually square, was divided by narrow paths crosswise (which had a symbolic meaning) into four square parts. In the center, at the intersection of the paths, a well, a fountain, and a small pond were built for aquatic plants and watering the garden, washing or drinking water. The fountain was also a symbol - a symbol of purity of faith, inexhaustible grace, etc. A small pond was often built where fish were bred for fasting days. This small garden in the courtyard of the monastery usually had small trees - fruit or ornamental trees and flowers.
However, commercial orchards, apothecary gardens and kitchen gardens were usually established outside the monastery walls. A small orchard inside the monastery courtyard was a symbol of paradise. It often included a monastery cemetery. The pharmaceutical garden was located near the monastery hospital or almshouse. IN apothecary garden Plants were also grown that could serve as dyes for coloring initials and miniatures of manuscripts. AND healing properties herbs were determined mainly by the symbolic meaning of a particular plant.
Evidence of how much attention was paid to gardens and flowers in the Middle Ages is the rescript of 1812, by which Charlemagne ordered the flowers to be planted in his gardens. The rescript contained a list of about sixty names of flowers and ornamental plants. This list was copied and then distributed to monasteries throughout Europe. Gardens were cultivated even by mendicant orders. The Franciscans, for example, until 1237, according to their charter, did not have the right to own land, with the exception of a plot at the monastery, which could not be used except for a garden. Other monastic orders were specifically engaged in gardening and vegetable gardening and were famous for it. Every detail in the monastery gardens had a symbolic meaning to remind the monks of the foundations of divine economy and Christian virtues.
Gardens in castles had a special character. They were usually under the special supervision of the mistress of the castle and served as a small oasis of calm among the noisy and dense crowd of castle inhabitants that filled its courtyards. Both medicinal and poisonous herbs, herbs for decoration and those with symbolic meaning were grown here. Particular attention was paid to fragrant herbs. Their aroma corresponded to the idea of paradise, delighting all human senses, but another reason for their cultivation was that castles and cities, due to low sanitary conditions, were full of bad odors. Ornamental flowers and bushes were planted in medieval monastery gardens, especially roses brought by the Crusaders from the Middle East. Sometimes trees grew here - lindens, oaks. Near the defensive fortifications of the castle, “meadows of flowers” were set up for tournaments and social fun. “Rose Garden” and “Meadow of Flowers” are one of the motifs of medieval painting of the 15th-16th centuries; The Madonna and Child were most often depicted against the backdrop of a garden.
