Potager Royal

Potager Royal . Vegetable garden and orchards in the Reggia di Venaria

10 hectares of orchards and vegetable gardens in a scenery punctuated by flower and vegetable plots, fountains and green galleries.
A ctivities, didactic programs and thematic labs.

Discover the art of landscaping and savour the tastes of Italy in these extraordinary orchards and vegetables gardens.

In 2011 the superb Gardens of the Reggia will be home to the new Potager Royal: 10 hectares of vegetable gardens and orchards cultivated with a multitude of vegetables and cereals typical of the local territory. Discover a treasure trove of taste along botanical, cultural, and gastronomic itineraries, participate in sensory education sessions, learn about horticulture and cooking techniques, and join us to taste the finest dishes of Italian regional cuisine.

The Gardens of the Reggia di Venaria appear today as a perfectly balanced combination of ancient and modern, where archaeological findings and contemporary artworks dialogue together in a boundless scenario: the 17th century grottoes, the remains of the Fountain of Hercules and the Temple of Diana, the restored Great Pond, the Alleys, the Flower Garden and the Rose Garden all contribute to make these Gardens unique among Italian historical gardens, also thanks to the glorious perspectives and the vastness of the natural scenery surrounded by the woods of the Park of La Mandria and the mountain peaks of the Alps.

As recently as the year 2000, this 80-hectare area had been ravaged so badly that it was impossible to perceive the original 17th-18th layout of the Gardens. A complex restoration project has led, over a period of 8 years, to an unprecedented reconstruction of a landscape and its historical marks with an eye towards modern aesthetics and fruition needs: almost 50,000 new plants are now in place, next to important art works by contemporary master Giuseppe Penone.

The new Potager at the Venaria Reale

In 2011, on the occasion of the celebrations for the Anniversary of Italian Unification, the Lower Park of the new Gardens of the Reggia will be home to the largest Potager in Italy, that will span 10 hectares in the vicinity of the Cascina Medici del Vascello. In the 17th and 18th century, this area was part of the vast Gardens, while in the 19th century extensive activities were carried out here by the Royal Farm.

Farming activities are attested in several historical documents and the Potager (that included an orchard and a vegetable garden) was located to the south of the Upper Park, an area that is used today by the military. The current project to restore the ancient plots according to their original layout take the shape of a square section that will host cultivated plots, water ponds, fountains, fruit trees espaliers and pergolas where flowers and vegetables will be grown. Thanks to a careful examination of ancient documentation, it was possible to identify the species that were originally grown in these orchards and vegetable gardens and to understand the exact use that was made of them, so as to bring back the vocation of this place that appeared to have been lost.

The area will extend to the east and west of Cascina Medici del Vascello, where orchards and vegetable plots will span around 10 hectares. The decorative portion of this area, designed according to the principles of agroecology, is intended to become the venue of leisure, aesthetic, educational, historical, and gastronomic pursuits.

The vegetable garden presents a varied scenario, where lawns alternate with orchards and extensive farmed areas, water ponds and fountains, pergolas and roofed areas that will allow the visitors to experience in full the evocative and wondrous appeal of this site.

The orchard, enclosed by rows of Prunus Avium and Pyrus Calleryana, is home to a range of ancient horticultural produce that is typical of this local territory. The same concept inspired the selection of the fruit trees that were selected to be planted, that include traditional peach, plum, apricot, and cherry trees as well as pear and apple trees. The orchard layout, where 1500 plants are now being grown, is dotted with lawns where fruit trees will be pruned and shaped into regular “espalier” patterns according to ancient horticultural techniques.

Visits and Activities

The vegetables garden and the decorative orchard are gems in the crown of La Venaria Reale, outstanding for their size, the themes they present, and their innovative concept: visitors will have access to information on plant species, the delicate balance of their ecosystem, and the cultural symbols that they represent. These themes will be illustrated visually and described in audioguides, publications, and leaflets that will enable visitors to understand the inner mechanisms of this articulated space, highlighting the most interesting botanical and scientific aspects of each point of interest and presenting information on plant names.

Apiary

Bees and all other insects that participate in the pollination process are key for the survival of human beings. In the context of orchards and vegetable gardens, it is therefore essential to provide information and educational opportunities to learn more on the world of bees.

To this end panels will be set up in the apiary to provide visitors – particularly children and school groups – with useful information and little known facts.

Recycling and composting area

The recycling and composting area was inspired by the need to increase awareness of environmental issues and to show that good farming and household practices can reflect positively on the ecosystem.

Composting will be analyzed by describing the functioning of a composter: the use of organic materials (fruit and vegetable waste, cooked food, leaves, weed, etc), the need to maintain humidity, the microorganisms necessary for the transformation of waste into humus. The visual and educational experience will therefore focus both on the various layers of materials and the intermediate transformation processes, and on the end result when the transformation process is complete. The importance of separating waste and reusing organic components, particularly in agriculture, will also be presented in this area.

Greenhouse/Seedbed

The area near the vegetable garden will be home to a greenhouse/seedbed that will be used to grow vegetables and flowers, before they are planted elsewhere.
A section of this facility will allow the visitors to learn more about this process.
Educational activities (that will require advance booking) include:

• guided tours and thematic seminars for children and adults.
• Sensory education sessions for children and adults: green horticulture, grocery shopping, and cooking techniques
• tastings of regional dishes prepared with typical local produce and haute cuisine

Sensory education (for schools and adults)
The senses are tools to better understand food, taste evolution, and the cultural role of eating. These educational sessions will enable participants to acquire information and to practice sensory education with everyday foods that will put their senses to the test and help pinpoint differences in quality.

Green Horticulture (for schools and adults)
More and more people today are interested in learning how to best create and run a vegetable garden.
Activities in this area will include:
Horticulture for the little ones (activities for schools):
how to sow, what is compost, what can be found in the ground: a window open on agriculture, environment, and food.
Organic horticulture (activities for adults):
the aim is to provide theoretical and practical tools to enable participants to start a vegetable garden without using chemicals like fertilizers, pesticides, and herbicides. Familiarity with various green farming techniques will also enable a responsible, careful evaluation of the agricultural quality of food, a fundamental skill in order to choose and judge a product without relying exclusively on the label.

Grocery shopping (for adults)
These activities aim to promote greater awareness and responsibility when grocery shopping, to provide curious insights into food and its production system, as well as tools that are useful to choose what to bring to your table.
Grocery shopping may appear a simple business, but it is in fact a complex and articulated process that can become good, clean, and fair by following small but important tips.

Cooking techniques (for adults)
These session will provide ideas and suggestions to preserve food before placing it on your table, and practical tips to learn useful cooking techniques and prepare interesting recipes with everyday groceries. From appetizers to soups, from jams to side dishes: put your skills to the test and engage in sustainable cooking.
Italian products and will be displayed in the Carriage Court, that will be home to the farmers market.
In collaboration with Ferrero.

Created by
Consorzio La Venaria Reale and Comitato Italia 150

A Project by
Maurizio Reggi, Alessia Bellone
La Venaria Reale Conservation and Gardens Department

Themes concept
University of Gastronomic Sciences of Pollenzo, in collaboration with Slow Food

Partner
Chamber of Commerce of Turin