Numerous projects and a prolonged exchange of ideas between the architect-landscape gardener Fernand Duprat (1887-1976) and Paul Chénereau resulted in the final design characterised by its serenity and balance. Up to that time, the design had stopped, on the west side, at the river Bruant and it was then extended by digging out a watercourse, constructing a jetty below the gardens and creating a waterfall against the hill.

Twenty years later, the marshland, which had served as a defence for the château, insidiously became the gardens enemy: it caused subsidence of 8 cm a year under the balustrades, the little towers, the paths and shrubs. The splendid gardens are threatened again.

The only solution found by Jacques Badois, Paul Chénereau’s son in law and present owner of La Roche Courbon was to re-construct the gardens on piles. This giant task spread over 25 years was completed 1976-2000. 2.500 piles were driven down to a depth of 13 metres until they reached firm ground ; the visitor has difficulty in imagining that he is walking in a hanging garden !

Financing such a project was only possible thanks to the participation of the Regional Council of Poitou-Charentes and the Departmental Council of the Charente Maritime.

A permanent 20 panels exhibition shows the development of these gardens from prehistoric times to the present day.