Created by Japanese artist Kinya Maryama as part of the Parcours Estuaire, this work has been designed as a space to live in: walk around, play, relax, breathe and contemplate. Working from the Big Dipper constellation, the creator of the Starry Garden was inspired by a traditional Japanese tale about the love affair between two stars. Each cardinal point has its own divine animal: to the east, the blue dragon (water); to the west, the white tiger (wind); to the south, the red bird (fire); and to the north, the black tortoise (earth). The Japanese landscape architect is not only a follower of ancestral Taoist and Shintoist philosophy; through his sensitivity and his entirely subjective interpretation of the construction of a garden, Kinya Maruyama is an advocate of ecological architecture that respects the environment. The Star Garden is made from local materials (chestnut poles, slate, sand and earth from the banks of the Loire, reeds, etc.). It’s an unusual place to take a stroll, offering a different view of the Loire Estuary. The story “Journey to the land of the Jardin Etoilé” and the children’s game booklet (6-12 years) are available below or from the tourist office. The Jardin Etoilé is not independently accessible for PRMs, but some areas can be visited with assistance. Audio documents in French and English are available from the tourist office. Many thanks to Gilles Bruyelle for this “aerial” discovery of the Jardin étoilé de Paimboeuf site, a few minutes of history and shared knowledge through this 7-minute short film. “It’s a contemporary work of art included in the ESTUAIRE 2007-2009-2012 itinerary and part of the Voyage à Nantes. It’s a walk for everyone… A wonderful, inventive playground, mainly for children… and the not-so-young, who can dream for a few moments before reaching for the stars.” © Gilles Bruyelle imagesetreportages@orange.fr – All rights reserved. Saint-Brevin émotions brutes – Les Balades Émotions – Episode 2: The Star Garden