The mazes and labyrinths have been a fascinating element of garden art since ancient times. The hedge mazes were very popular in Europe in the 16th century and the Renaissance. These amazingGardensserve not only as an interesting leisure activity, but also as a focal point for thoughts about the source of life, human destiny and our place in the universe. In the 17th and 18th centuries, mazes and labyrinths became even more lavish and complicated. The design of garden labyrinths often included blind endings, ornamental “rooms,” or even pools and fountains. They were also more difficult to solve.
Such gardens have fascinated and inspired humanity for centuries. And this trend has spread outside of Europe too. The most famous architects from around the world wanted to impress and delight visitors with their designs. Check out these exciting hedge mazes and the great pictures from themBird's eye view.
1. Mazes and labyrinths in France – Reignac-sur-Indre corn maze
This labyrinth is considered the largest in the world and was created in 1996 in Touraine, France. Back then, 85,000 visitors came to admire this amazing garden and get lost in the middle of the 4-acre maze. Every year a labyrinth of corn or sunflowers is created, is harvested in autumn and then appears in a different form the following year, thanks to a proven marking technique.
2. The maze in Schönbrunn Palace, Vienna, Austria
The first hedge labyrinth in Schönbrunn was laid between 1698 and 1740. Consisting of four different parts, visitors could reach a pavilion with a viewing tower in the middle and admire the entire labyrinth from above. During the 19th century the maze and hedges were destroyed. Today's maze was rebuilt in 1998 and covers an area of 1715m2. Schönbrunn also has a labyrinth - a 2700m2 area dedicated to games and puzzles.
3. The labyrinth at Villa Pisani, in the Veneto region of Italy
Conceived in 1720 by Gerolamo Frigimelica, the hedge maze amuses visitors with its intricate paths, considered the most difficult in the world. The tall hedges are planted in nine concentric circles, densely obscuring everything but the central target.
A white tower with two small spiral staircases to the top where the statues of Minerva, goddess of wisdom, and the patron saint of all arts stand. According to legend, Napoleon himself once got lost here!
4. Pineapple Maze in Hawaii
The world's largest maze, according to the Guinness Book of World Records in 2001, the Pineapple Hedge Maze features over three miles of paths on three acres. Instead of a traditional English hedge, it is planted with 14,000 colorful Hawaiian plants, including hibiscus, croton, panax, pineapple and heliconia.
5. Snake Maze in Britain
It took Michael Blee, 62, several months to create this six-acre hedge maze at Gore Farm in Upchurch, near Rochester, Kent. Its hedges grow 3 meters high. This is the tenth and most complicated maze that Mr. Blee has ever done.
6. Hampton Court Maze in Great Britain
Hampton Court, the royal palace on the River Thames in west London, is probably the most famous in Britain. The maze was created as part of the gardens for William of Orange between 1689 and 1695 by George London and Henry Wise. It covers an area of approximately 1350 m², with paths and hedges over 0.8 km long.
7. “Peace Maze” in Irland
This Irish hedge maze officially opened in 2001. The largest permanent maze in the world covers an area of 11,000 m2. The path length is 3147m. The hedges consist of 6,000 yew hedges planted in December 2000 by people from across Northern Ireland.
8. Longleat Maze in Great Britain
Made from more than 16,000 English yew hedges, the spectacular Longleat hedge maze - the longest in the world - was first laid in 1975 by designer Greg Helle. The maze covers an area of around 6000 m2 with a total path length of 2.72 km. Unlike most conventional hedge mazes, it is actually three-dimensional, with six wooden bridges offering tantalizing views towards the center of the maze.
9. Ashcombe Maze and Lavender Maze in Australia
The largest and oldest maze in Australia, three meters high and two meters wide. The gardens also have the world's oldest rose labyrinth, where 217 varieties of roses bloom like a fairytale on 1,200 bushes.
10. Davis Mega Labyrinth, Sterling, USA
“Davis Mega Maze” is an amazing corn maze in Massachusetts, USA. Every year it amazes visitors with a fresh design by world-famous designer Adrian Fisher. The themes have changed a lot - from dinosaurs in 2001, through the Wild West (2004) to Blackbeard's Revenge (2011). The labyrinth has more bridges than any other, including the only double-decker bridge. It is also the only corn maze in the world that has the capacity to change every day. This makes every experience absolutely unique.
