Vexin Central Hospital
Photo: Parischicago / CC BY-SA 4.0, modified.
Overview
The Japanese Garden at the Vexin Central Hospital is a therapeutic Japanese-style garden created in the grounds of the former Centre médical de la Bucaille at Aincourt. It was initiated by Dr Henri Hamon, then director of the medical centre, as a garden for the well-being of patients. Local and hospital-related sources describe it as a Japanese garden inspired by classical Japanese garden principles and by the Sakuteiki.
History
The garden was created in 1970 at the initiative of Dr Henri Hamon, who was interested in Japanese culture, Zen philosophy and Japanese garden art. It was laid out near the hospital pavilions of the former sanatorium complex at Aincourt. The work was carried out by the hospital’s gardeners and maintenance workers, while local farmers reportedly donated unusually shaped sandstone rocks for the garden.
Design features
The garden was designed to evoke well-known Japanese landscapes and garden models. Sources mention the Nijō Castle gardens as inspiration for the rock arrangements, Sambō-in for the cascade, island and bridge, and the sacred precincts of Nara for the torii entrance. Its features include a red torii, rocks, water, cascade, island, bridge and planted garden areas.
Garden elements
Bridges
Waters and islands
Stones
Shinto elements
Other elements
Current status
xtant Japanese garden within the hospital grounds at Aincourt. It is maintained by the Centre hospitalier du Vexin and appears to have limited or informal visitor access, rather than standard public-park opening.