allées

Allées are long, linear passages in landscape design, typically a walkway or driveway flanked by trees or shrubs. They function as a route for movement and as a visual axis, shaping how visitors approach a space or building and how views unfold along their length.

Most allées are formed by regularly spaced rows of trees or hedges, creating a shaded corridor. They can be straight or gently curved to suit the landscape. Surfaces may be gravel, paving, or turf. Common tree species include lime, hornbeam, plane, and chestnut, while hedges may be clipped to emphasise form and order.

Historically, allées are a hallmark of European landscape design, especially in French formal gardens of the 17th and 18th centuries. They were used to create perspective, procession routes, and ceremonial approaches to estates. An allee d’honneur refers to a ceremonial entrance lined with trees to emphasize prestige.

In contemporary settings, allées appear in parks, university campuses, and urban streets, combining aesthetic impact with climate and microclimate benefits. Design considerations include scale, maintenance of canopies and roots, pest and disease management, and accessibility. The concept overlaps with urban tree-lined boulevards, where an allée helps define space, provide shade, and influence the experience of pedestrians and drivers.