Gardens shaping creative imaginations

Available for over a year

The neighbourhood of Montparnasse in central Paris has been home to some of the most influential artists, writers and composers of the last two centuries, perhaps nowhere more so than the area around Joanna Robertson’s street, rue Boissonade. In the second of her series, Joanna explores the relationship between the road’s natural environment and some of its most famous residents, such as the nineteenth century writer Francois-Rene de Chateaubriand who bought land here and cultivated a substantial park. To this day, some of the residents enjoy surprisingly lush gardens behind the street's walls. Presenter: Joanna Robertson Producer: Arlene Gregorius Editor: Sara Wadeson Production coordinator: Maria Ogundele Sound engineer: Rod Farquhar