16 March 2018
Medieval Castle of Pralormo
The castle, an austere construction dating back to the 13th century underwent alterations that transformed the large fortified estate into a pleasant residence surrounded by a luxurious English garden designed in the fourteenth century by the court landscape painter Xavier Kurten.
The first definitive record of a garden is dated 12th June 1574; however it was not until the 19th century that the Count of Pralormo, minister to the King, chose the best architect of the time Ernesto Melano to transform the residence. He entrusted the garden to Xabier Kurten, whose romantic English garden design was fully realised and whose framework has been handed down to us.
The designer took advantage of the natural beauty of the mountain range that made a superb backdrop and sculpted the trees knowingly to catch a glimpse of some of the spectacular views during walks in the park. Each spring over 50 000 tulips blossom in this extraordinary environment including; parrot, fringed in 10 colours, double flowering and peony flowering varieties, multiflora tulips and rare varieties. There are many flowerbeds containing the starred variety or lily flowering, the perfumed tulip, the tulip dedicated to the countess of Pralormo by the Dutch and the legendary black tulip.
Soft flowerbeds skirt the surrounding paths twisting around the secular trees, in the undergrowth clusters of narcissuses and tulips peep through while not only tulips but lilacs, irises and peonies blossom one after the other through out the month of April.
Each year blossoming marks the opening of the park to the public with ''Messer Tulipano'' that offers in depth studies, starting points. Count Beraudo of Pralormo is a habitual resident of the castle.
The first definitive record of a garden is dated 12th June 1574; however it was not until the 19th century that the Count of Pralormo, minister to the King, chose the best architect of the time Ernesto Melano to transform the residence. He entrusted the garden to Xabier Kurten, whose romantic English garden design was fully realised and whose framework has been handed down to us.
The designer took advantage of the natural beauty of the mountain range that made a superb backdrop and sculpted the trees knowingly to catch a glimpse of some of the spectacular views during walks in the park. Each spring over 50 000 tulips blossom in this extraordinary environment including; parrot, fringed in 10 colours, double flowering and peony flowering varieties, multiflora tulips and rare varieties. There are many flowerbeds containing the starred variety or lily flowering, the perfumed tulip, the tulip dedicated to the countess of Pralormo by the Dutch and the legendary black tulip.
Soft flowerbeds skirt the surrounding paths twisting around the secular trees, in the undergrowth clusters of narcissuses and tulips peep through while not only tulips but lilacs, irises and peonies blossom one after the other through out the month of April.
Each year blossoming marks the opening of the park to the public with ''Messer Tulipano'' that offers in depth studies, starting points. Count Beraudo of Pralormo is a habitual resident of the castle.
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Tulip Fever' did change my life. It did that thing that sometimes happens when a book takes off - it opened doors on to whole other worlds.- Deborah Moggach - |
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