GARDENS

These gardens were developed after the opening of the hotel, because the corner bd Féart was then occupied by an agency of a bank which prevented such an implementation.

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"Boutin" bank agency before 1927

View from the beach in 1927 : the "Boutin" bank agency is still visible
on the left of the facade
(private collection)

They were the perfect architectural extension of the hotel also using the language in "step-like manner".

View of the gardens in step-like manner
(private collection)

The slope, backfilled today, was then divided into fourths terraces, connected by a flight of three steps, in the perspective of the rotunda staircase which would be considered as the first degree. The stairs ended at a lookout terrace on the left and on the right by the entrance to the gardens next to the beach, in the corner of the boulevard. At this level, the floor was garnished with a large tiled floor in shape of a carpet and was used as a carriage entrance, flanked by two mighty pillars, probably equipped with indirect lighting system. A beautiful double wrought iron gate, with “art deco” drawings, gave access to the gardens also called "garden bar".

Entrance of the gardens seas side view
(private collection)

Circa 1930 two elegant ladies are portrayed
in front of the entrance gate of the gardens
sea side view
(private collection)

Garden plants were treated according to the principle of the French garden style of the 17^th century. The systematic use of straight lines by the architects of the period "art deco" will have the effect of bringing up to date, after more than 150 years of garden designed in English style with curved lines , the geometric language of French garden of the 17^th century. Part of the gardens of the villa "Grey Stone" in Dinard is the only remaining example of importance of revival of the classic era of garden art that will end in the late forties.

Bird view of the gardens
(private collection)

The area of ​​each garden terrace of the "Gallic" was separated from one another by narrow grass borders with flowers and trimmed topiary plants in both end. The space was thus divided into sort of outdoor lounge and allowed guests to have some privacy. The ground was covered with sand. Hollyhocks were planted against the rotunda large columns.

Viex of the gardens circa 1930
(private collection)

Armchair from the gardens
(private collection)

This was completed by hundreds of red geranium in the planters running along the facades of the hotel and thus conferred on building a silhouette of a vertical garden.

Colored view of the gardens circa 1939
(private collection)

The gardens will be the scene of lavish festivities given by Lady Mond in 1934 to honor of Jacques Cartier discovery of Canada. The gardens, stressed the pyramid pattern of the building. Thus, set on top of a staircase, on a sort of promontory, the Gallic Hotel gave beach goers, a strong signal of classical modernity.

These gardens were partially destroyed during German occupation because of the construction of a protective barrier for the bomb shelter located beneath the rotunda. Then they will be permanently filled and turned into parking lot for a bus company who had bought the rotunda and transformed it into a Station Road.

Photo taken in August 1950, the gardens have disappeared.
On the left, the bunker built during WWII, between the Gallic Hotel
and the garden of the villa "Moulton"
(private collection)