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{{Short description|Outdoor garden maze or labyrinth}}
[[File:Traquair House Maze.jpg|alt=|thumb|260x260px|The maze at [[Traquair House|Traquair]]]]
[[File:Traquair House Maze.jpg|alt=|thumb|260x260px|The maze at [[Traquair House|Traquair]]]]
A '''hedge maze''' is an outdoor garden [[maze]] or [[labyrinth]] in which the "walls" or dividers between passages are made of vertical [[hedge]]s.
A '''hedge maze''' is an outdoor garden [[maze]] or [[labyrinth]] in which the "walls" or dividers between passages are made of vertical [[hedge]]s.


==History==
==History==
[[File:Labyrinth Versailles colour.JPG|thumb|upright|[[The labyrinth of Versailles]] was a hedge maze in the [[Gardens of Versailles]], a royal [[château]] in [[France]]. Pictured is ''Labyrinte de Versailles'' by Charles Perrault with engravings by Leclerc and coloured by Jacques Bailly, circa the late 17th century]]
[[File:Labyrinth Versailles colour.JPG|thumb|upright=2|[[The labyrinth of Versailles]] was a hedge maze in the [[Gardens of Versailles]], a royal [[château]] in [[France]]. Pictured is ''Labyrinte de Versailles'' by Charles Perrault with engravings by Leclerc and coloured by Jacques Bailly, circa the late 17th century]]
[[File:Hampton court maze.svg|thumb|upright|The layout of [[Hampton Court Maze]], a typical hedge maze]]


Hedge mazes evolved from the [[knot garden]]s of [[Renaissance]] [[Europe]], and were first constructed during the mid-16th century.<ref name="mazesfollies">
Hedge mazes evolved from the [[knot garden]]s of [[Renaissance]] [[Europe]], and were first constructed during the mid-16th century.<ref name="mazesfollies">
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| title = Mazes & Follies
| title = Mazes & Follies
| publisher = Jarrold Publishing
| publisher = Jarrold Publishing
| year = 2004 }}</ref> These early mazes were constructed from [[evergreen]] herbs, but, over time, [[Boxwood (genus)|dwarf box]] became a more popular option due to its robustness. Italian architects had been sketching conceptual garden labyrinths as early as 1460, and hundreds of mazes were constructed in Europe between the 16th and 18th centuries.<ref>{{cite book
| year = 2004 }}</ref> These early mazes were very low, initially planted with [[evergreen]] herbs, but, over time, [[Boxwood (genus)|dwarf box]] became a more popular option due to its robustness. Italian architects had been sketching conceptual garden labyrinths as early as 1460, and hundreds of mazes were constructed in Europe between the 16th and 18th centuries.<ref>{{cite book
| last1 = Wright
| last1 = Wright
| first1 = Craig M.
| first1 = Craig M.
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| year = 2001 }}</ref>
| year = 2001 }}</ref>


Initially, the hedge maze was not intended to confuse, but to provide a [[Labyrinth|unicursal walking path]]. Puzzle-like hedge mazes featuring dead ends and tall hedges arrived in [[England]] during the reign of [[King William III of England]]. It was possible to get lost in the much-admired [[the labyrinth of Versailles|labyrinth of Versailles]], built for [[Louis XIV of France]] in 1677 and destroyed in 1778. This maze was adorned with thirty-nine hydraulic sculpture groups depicting [[Aesop's fables]]. The oldest surviving puzzle hedge maze, at [[Hampton Court Palace]] in [[Surrey, England]], was built for King William in the late 17th century. Its distinctive trapezoidal shape is due to pre-existing paths running alongside the maze.
Initially, the hedge maze was not intended to confuse, but to provide a [[Labyrinth|unicursal walking path]]. Puzzle-like hedge mazes featuring dead ends and tall hedges arrived in [[England]] during the reign of [[King William III of England]]. They were now part of the [[bosquet]] or [[Wilderness (garden history)|wilderness]] part of the garden, and extended area of highly artificial formal woodland, with groups of trees enclosed by hedges. It was possible to get lost in the much-admired [[the labyrinth of Versailles|labyrinth of Versailles]], built for [[Louis XIV of France]] in 1677 and destroyed in 1778. This maze was adorned with thirty-nine hydraulic sculpture groups depicting [[Aesop's fables]]. The oldest surviving puzzle hedge maze, at [[Hampton Court Palace]] in [[Surrey, England]], was built for King William in the late 17th century. Its distinctive trapezoidal shape is due to pre-existing paths running alongside the maze.


In modern times, hedge mazes have increased in complexity. A hedge maze at [[Longleat House]] in [[Wiltshire, England]], designed in 1978, features a three-dimensional maze that uses bridges and a grid-less layout to confuse visitors.
In modern times, hedge mazes have increased in complexity. A hedge maze at [[Longleat House]] in [[Wiltshire, England]], designed in 1978, features a three-dimensional maze that uses bridges and a grid-less layout to confuse visitors.


==Notable public hedge mazes==
==Notable public hedge mazes==
<gallery>
[[File:Hampton Court Avri 2009 42.jpg|thumb|upright|Inside Hampton Court hedge maze]]
File:Hampton court maze.svg|The layout of [[Hampton Court Maze]], a typical hedge maze, UK
File:Hampton Court Avri 2009 42.jpg|Inside Hampton Court hedge maze, UK
<!--File:Garden maze (George G. Rockwood).jpg|1880s hedge maze, photographed by [[George G. Rockwood]] seems not to be a maze but a knot garden-->
File:Chatsworth (48521657511).jpg|Chatworth Maze, UK
File:Blenheim Palace Maze (6093408666).jpg|Blenheim Palace, UK
File:Nemzszinh-spiralcivertan.jpg|Hungarian National Theater
File:Hedge maze in Parque São Roque da Lameira 6.jpg|Parque São Roque da Lameira, Portugal
File:VanDusen Botanical Garden maze.jpg|VanDusen Botanical Garden, Canada
File:Longleat maze.jpg|Longleat Maze is three-dimensional, UK
File:Hedge Maze, St Louis Botanical Gardens (St Louis, Missouri - June 2003).jpg|St Louis Botanical Gardens, USA
File:Jeju Kimnyoung Maze Park (15029448766).jpg|A maze in [[Jeju City]], Korea
File:彰化-探索迷宮歐式庭園餐廳 (31258296494).jpg|A waist-high maze in a European-style "manor" in Taiwan
File:Hedge maze - Nokkakivi.jpg|A maza at the [[Nokkakivi|Nokkakivi Amusement Park]] in [[Laukaa]], Finland
</gallery>


* [[Blackpool Pleasure Beach]], England, has a maze, though only part is constructed from hedges.
* [[Blackpool Pleasure Beach]], England, has a maze, though only part is constructed from hedges.
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* [[Castlewellan]], Northern Ireland, world's largest permanent hedge maze
* [[Castlewellan]], Northern Ireland, world's largest permanent hedge maze
* [[Chatsworth House]], England
* [[Chatsworth House]], England
* [[Disneyland Paris]] has a hedgemaze in [[Alice's Curious Labyrinth]], an [[Alice in Wonderland]] themed area.
* [[Disneyland Paris]] has a hedgemaze in [[Alice's Curious Labyrinth]], an [[Alice in Wonderland (franchise)|Alice in Wonderland]] themed area.
* [[Obludiste]], Czech Republic
* [[Egeskov Castle]], Denmark
* [[Egeskov Castle]], Denmark
* The Garden Maze at [[Luray Caverns]], Luray, Virginia, US
* The Garden Maze at [[Luray Caverns]], Luray, Virginia, US
* The Governor's Palace Maze in [[Colonial Williamsburg]], Williamsburg, Virginia, US
* The Governor's Palace Maze in [[Colonial Williamsburg]], Williamsburg, Virginia, US
[[File:Garden maze (George G. Rockwood).jpg|thumb|right|1880s hedge maze, photographed by [[George G. Rockwood]]]]
* [[Hampton Court Maze]], England
* [[Hampton Court Maze]], England
* Kaeser Memorial Maze, [[Missouri Botanical Garden]], St. Louis, Missouri, US
* Kaeser Memorial Maze, [[Missouri Botanical Garden]], St. Louis, Missouri, US
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* [[Villa Vizcaya]], Miami, Florida, US
* [[Villa Vizcaya]], Miami, Florida, US
* [[Botanical World Adventures]] hedgemaze, Hakalau, Hawaii, US
* [[Botanical World Adventures]] hedgemaze, Hakalau, Hawaii, US
* [[Laberinto de Villapresente]], Villapresente, [[Cantabria]], Spain


==See also==
==See also==

Latest revision as of 00:14, 21 August 2024

The maze at Traquair

A hedge maze is an outdoor garden maze or labyrinth in which the "walls" or dividers between passages are made of vertical hedges.

History

[edit]
The labyrinth of Versailles was a hedge maze in the Gardens of Versailles, a royal château in France. Pictured is Labyrinte de Versailles by Charles Perrault with engravings by Leclerc and coloured by Jacques Bailly, circa the late 17th century

Hedge mazes evolved from the knot gardens of Renaissance Europe, and were first constructed during the mid-16th century.[1] These early mazes were very low, initially planted with evergreen herbs, but, over time, dwarf box became a more popular option due to its robustness. Italian architects had been sketching conceptual garden labyrinths as early as 1460, and hundreds of mazes were constructed in Europe between the 16th and 18th centuries.[2]

Initially, the hedge maze was not intended to confuse, but to provide a unicursal walking path. Puzzle-like hedge mazes featuring dead ends and tall hedges arrived in England during the reign of King William III of England. They were now part of the bosquet or wilderness part of the garden, and extended area of highly artificial formal woodland, with groups of trees enclosed by hedges. It was possible to get lost in the much-admired labyrinth of Versailles, built for Louis XIV of France in 1677 and destroyed in 1778. This maze was adorned with thirty-nine hydraulic sculpture groups depicting Aesop's fables. The oldest surviving puzzle hedge maze, at Hampton Court Palace in Surrey, England, was built for King William in the late 17th century. Its distinctive trapezoidal shape is due to pre-existing paths running alongside the maze.

In modern times, hedge mazes have increased in complexity. A hedge maze at Longleat House in Wiltshire, England, designed in 1978, features a three-dimensional maze that uses bridges and a grid-less layout to confuse visitors.

Notable public hedge mazes

[edit]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Fisher, Adrian (2004). Mazes & Follies. Jarrold Publishing.
  2. ^ Wright, Craig M. (2001). The maze and the warrior: symbols in architecture, theology and music. The President and Fellows of Harvard College.

Further reading

[edit]
[edit]