The Gardens enjoys stunning views reaching out over the sea towards Albania and Northern Greece, lying as it does on an east/west orientation with the morning sun rising directly in the view over Albania. In the evening, the sun falls gradually behind the hills behind the village, causing the view to change in both character and colour. The views, from varying parts of the garden, gave particular inspiration to the overall design and experience as the view and light is always changing throughout the day. Each part of the garden has been designed as a series of outside ’rooms’ through which one transgresses with a direct relationship to is particular view.

The exquisite gardens of the Rou Estate have been designed by Jennifer Gay, one of Greece’s leading landscape architects, Piers Goldson and Dominic Skinner, all members of the Mediterranean Garden Society. Thus creating a sympathetic reflection of a traditional hillside village landscape .

From the formal walkway, reminiscent of a village square, the gardens slowly fragment from carefully-manicured formalism to the haven of wild olive groves. This transition encapsulates herb gardens, original trees, specialist ferns, Iris walkways and wonderful wild flowers. The Team has produced in each garden a floral display that is ever-changing throughout the months, from season to season... because the only constant of a garden is change.

The intention is for the gardens to create on Corfu - ‘the Garden Island’ - a wildflower reserve that will capitalise on the heritage of the old buildings and in return enhance the sympathetic restoration.

The Gardens are gaining international reputation with recent visits from presidents of the Mediterranean Garden Society and the Pacific Horticultural Association.