The Jardin des plantes, Nantes' botanical treasure trove

The very first botanical garden in Nantes dates back to 1688, when apothecaries were given permission to use a plot of land to the north of Nantes to grow medicinal plants. Recognised as a Royal Garden in 1726, the Apothecaries' Garden was home to all the seeds of exotic plants brought to Nantes by ship from the colonies. After a period of acclimatisation in the City of the Dukes, the plants were then sent to the capital. In exchange, the Jardin des Plantes in Paris also sent specimens to the Nantes garden, enabling it to expand its collection. The Jardin des Apothicaires eventually became too small to accommodate all the plants from the colonies, and the Jardin des Plantes as we know it today only found its final home in 1806, in an enclosure next to the Lycée Clémenceau. In 1839, Jean-Marie Ecorchard was appointed director of the garden and undertook considerable development work. His aim was to create an English-style landscape garden in Nantes, taking inspiration from the Royal Gardens of Kew in London. He also enriched the collections with magnolias and exotic plants from the Bourbon Islands, Pointe-à-Pitre and the Indies. The hot greenhouse was built in 1845 and used to grow bananas, coffee and other exotic fruits. The history of the Jardin des Plantes is closely linked to Nantes' past and to the sailors who brought back botanical treasures from their voyages to the ends of the earth.

The Jardin des plantes is full of wonders to discover! There are lakes, fountains, a waterfall, bridges, statues, sculptures and pavilions. And let's not forget the hundreds of birds that have taken up residence in the Garden and that you can watch. Let the paths and smells guide you and explore!

The Greenhouses of Acclimatisation

⏰ A tour of the greenhouses is a must. There are 3 of them: the semi-natural greenhouse, the tropical greenhouse and the palm island greenhouse where you can read or have a snack (open every day from midday to 6pm). Every afternoon, the greenhouses are open to the public - all you need to do is collect a ticket from the Garden reception desk. Free guided tours are also available on Wednesdays and Fridays at 3pm, and on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays at 11am, 3pm and 4pm.

Note that the greenhouses are accessible to people with reduced mobility.

The goat pen

This is another must-see area of the Garden! In a nice-sized enclosure right next to the merry-go-round, you'll find a dozen or so goats frolicking happily. You can meet them by crossing a small bridge, and even feed them by buying suitable food from the dispenser at the entrance to the enclosure. Something for all animal lovers!

Works of art in the Jardin des Plantes

As everywhere else in Nantes, artists are helping to make this visit even more accessible. The works of art in the Jardin des Plantes are each more astonishing than the last, and blend in perfectly with the landscape.

From 2013 to 2017, the city's green spaces department worked with Claude Ponti to offer visitors installations during the Voyage à Nantes. Today, eight permanent works can be seen in spring and summer: the "Banc Géant", the "Toggobancs", the "Bancs Processionnaires", the "Siestobancs", the "Banlançoire", the "Causeuses", the "Dormanron" and the "Totémimiques". The play area for "Dépodépo" is accessible all year round.

Since summer 2018, "La Racinante", an installation by artist Johann Le Guillerm, has been installed in the heart of the Garden.

Since summer 2020, the artist Jean Jullien has specially designed "Filili Viridi", monumental installations named "La Coiffe", "Le Ratisseur", "Les Enrouleurs", "L'Arroseur", "L'Observateur", "Le Passeur", "Le Siesteur"...

Have a drink at l'Orangerie

Every summer, the temporary bar l'Orangerie takes up residence in the Jardin des Plantes. Housed in a delightful glass roof with a terrace, the bar serves drinks made in the region and even serves homemade tapenade as an aperitif. At weekends, the Orangerie hosts a market of local producers and designers. An essential summer break. The bar is open every day from 4.30pm to 9.30pm during the summer season.

Exceptional specimens to discover

Among the astonishing species housed in the greenhouses of the Jardin des Plantes, you'll find the Arum Titan, native to Sumatra. It is the largest flower in the world, blooming every 3 years and with leaves that can grow from 2 to 6 metres high! Another special feature of this unusual plant is the stench it gives off when it blooms, earning it the evocative nickname of "corpse plant".

One of the most remarkable trees in the garden is the Magnolia d'Hectot. The first magnolias in France arrived in Nantes in 1711, brought back by the Marquis Barrin de la Galissonnière. Since then, they have lined our parks, gardens and boulevards. But the oldest and most majestic of them all is certainly this one! It has been enthroned in the garden for almost 200 years, offering visitors its large, fragrant white flowers every summer.

The Jardin des Plantes is also famous for its impressive collection of camellias. It was even recognised as a "Camellia Garden of Excellence" in 2016.