Do your part for stewardship
The University of Montpellier and the Jardin des Plantes Foundation are launching a major crowdfunding campaign for the restoration of theintendance building located in the heart of the Jardin des Plantes. Individuals, students, merchants, native Montpellerians, those who love Montpellier, and visitors alike, contribute to making this building, whose history dates back to the 16th century, a new space for sharing knowledge and conviviality in one of the city's most beautiful locations!
Stroll through the forestry school, admire the succulents in the Martins greenhouse, listen to the frogs croaking in the lotus pond, or read in the shade of the cypress trees lining the grand avenue in the company of a friendly cat... Montpellier residents of all ages are familiar with the simple pleasures offered by this special place: the Jardin des Plantes. Many dream of one day enjoying a coffee there, admiring an exhibition, or attending a lecture. This dream will soon become a reality thanks to everyone's participation.
An endowment fund open to all audiences
The University of Montpellier, owner of the premises, and the Jardin des Plantes corporate foundation, which already contributed to the renovation of the orangery and the school of systematics in 2017, are now launching an endowment fund for the renovation of the Intendance building. " The message we want to convey to the people of Montpellier is simple," says Philippe Augé, president of the university. " We are asking them to help us, within their means of course, but to help us nonetheless, because restoring the Jardin des Plantes means restoring our shared heritage." At the head of this endowment fund, Françoise Panthène, a doctor and former student at the University of Montpellier, details the needs: " The goal is to encourage people to take ownership of this project, to be proud of being involved, to contribute their small part to a large project."
This sum will be added to the significant contribution already made by the Jardin des Plantes Foundation, which brings together 25 companies under the chairmanship of Claude Cazes, director of the accounting firm Cazes Goddyn and member of the UM board of directors. " There are 25 of us, each committed to contributing €9,000 per year for five years. The cost of the Intendance project is higher, but we are counting on othersources of funding, including the University, of course, the public sector, and citizens.Fromstudents who come every day and would like to donate €5 or €10, to households and businesses that are a little better off and would like to see this beautiful building, which has been closed for so long, reopen."
A spiral story
A building that has not always had the form we know today, apart from its dilapidated state. When the Jardin des Plantes was created in 1593, its founder, the physician Richer de Belleval, built a house on the site of the current administration building, where he lived and which contained an amphitheater and a small chapel. He stored a collection of naturalist objects there and then, out of curiosity, built a spiral labyrinth descending to the water table beneath the garden, where he cultivated undergrowth plants. " This labyrinth is a vestige that seems to have disappeared at the end of the 18thcentury century, " says Thierry Lavabre-Bertrand, current director of the Jardin des Plantes. " If, during the course of the work, we manage to find it and restore it, it will be something wonderful and unique in the world, reminding us of the history of botany and the glory days of this garden."
The house of Richer de Belleval remained standing until the Revolution, before being extensively rebuilt in the early years ofthe 19th century, " but apparently incorporating the previous house. This is the form we can see today, " continues the director. It remained the residence of the garden director until 1815, when it also became the seat of the rectorate. " At the time, Augustin Pyramus de Candole held the dual role of director of the garden and rector, so he set up the rectorate in the Garden, and successive rectors found the premises to their liking. "At that time, the stewardship left the fold of the Faculty of Medicine, to which it was attached, to become the property of the Rectorate... until now. On December 18, the Rectorate, the State, and the UM signed a new agreement formalizing its return to the university's heritage.
Towards a new chapter
This marks the beginning of a new chapter for the stewardship. It will regain its function as the administrative headquarters of the garden and will also become a place for teaching, presenting collections, and familiarizing the general public with natural sciences and botany. "A second partnership agreement signed between the University and the Rectorate will enable a series of educational events to be organized there, " emphasizes Philippe Augé.
Everyone finally agrees on the need to make the stewardship "an open place." " One that is participatory, with a cafeteria and the respect that such a precious place deserves," according to Françoise Panthène. " A meeting place integrated into the cultural life of the city so that its beauty shines even brighter, " according to Claude Cazes. A unique place in the heart of Montpellier where each of us can always enjoy reading in the shade of the cypress trees, strolling through the alleys, listening to the frogs and talking to the cats... Before joining us at the Intendance.