Annotation

The article deals with the basic compositional techniques of planning the gardens of the Middle Ages, which occupy a prominent role in landscape gardening. The significant works, written achievements of the Middle Ages of Basil the Great, John the Exarch of Bulgaria, Erigen, Albert the Great («Gardens of the Vidarias»), Pietro de Crescentis («On Plant Production») are listed in the article. In the literature, it is noted that the exact descriptions and images of medieval gardens are almost preserved. The works of art and literature, such as illustrations in ancient manuscripts, painting, wall painting, poetry, chronicles, books on medicine and cookery, give an idea about the image of the Middle Ages gardens and the growing range of plants. The main objects of the landscape art of the Middle Ages are distinguished, particularly the monastery gardens, monasteries and the primal gardens, castle ornamental gardens, flower meadows and the «comfort gardens». These landscape features tend to be closed and are mostly subjected to utilitarian requirements. The main planning features of the Middle Ages gardens are the regularity, the ordinary planting of trees and shrubs, cutting of trees and shrubs, and the maze.

The article describes the basic composition and planning techniques in medieval gardens, namely closeness, simplicity and geometry, ornamentation. Underneath the enclosure is a small enclosed garden composition of square or rectangular shape, surrounded by a tall stone wall, wrapped in the middle of ivy or grapes. The beds with medicinal and ornamental plants were formed in the form of high prisms, the slopes of which were strengthened by sod or poles and supported from the vine. Sometimes the boundaries of the garden are fixed by dense fences, trimmed trees or willow trellis. Under simplicity and geometry, a simple geometric layout of the garden with center selection, in particular the division of gardens into parts, is considered. Often, two cross paths divided the garden and at the center of the intersection a cross or well, a fountain, a pool, sometimes planted a beautiful tree or flowering bush were installed. Under the ornamentation there are the gardens-labyrinths that were formed in the monastery gardens and sometimes in castles. The labyrinth was a pattern that fitted in a circle or hexagon, rectangle or square and made difficult paths to the center, had one or more entrances. In the center of the garden there was a fountain, swimming pool or sculpture.

The importance of preserving and reconstructing the gardens, being typical in the Middle Ages, which are now being restored and perform as the objects of culture and tourism, is emphasized.