What do the sculptures of the Tarot Garden represent?

The sculptures of the Tarot Garden represent the 22 major arcana of the tarot deck: the Magician, the High Priestess, the Empress, the Emperor, the Wheel of Fortune, the Tower, the World and the others. For Niki de Saint Phalle, each card was a stage of life, and the garden is walked like an initiatory path, with no imposed order.

The artist began the project in 1979 and worked there until her death in 2002, with local craftsmen. The figures, some over ten meters tall, have a steel and concrete structure covered in mosaics of mirrors, ceramic and glass. She said she was inspired by the Güell Park by Gaudí in Barcelona. TheImpératrice, a giant sphinx, is the most famous: Niki de Saint Phalle lived inside it for several years during the works. Her companion Jean Tinguely created the Wheel of Fortune, a mechanical fountain powered by the water flowing from the High Priestess.

You don't need to know tarot to enjoy the visit, but knowing that each work is a card helps you read the symbols. A small booklet or a search on the major arcana before entering makes the route much more meaningful. Practical information on the Tarot Garden info sheet.