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[LUM#7] An extraordinary garden

[] - Published on in Heritage, Science-Society

From Narcissa's tomb to the Martins greenhouse via the Orangery, are you sure you know all the secrets of Montpellier University's Botanical Garden?

The wishing tree in the botanical garden. © UM – David Richard / Transit
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Welcome to France's oldest botanical garden. Founded in 1593 by Henry IV, the Jardin des Plantes at the University of Montpellier covers nearly 5 hectares. For visitors, this green oasis is an extraordinary garden in the heart of the city. Come and stroll in the shade of the bamboo grove or along the shaded paths of the English garden, admire the Martins greenhouse and its succulent plants, or daydream by the lotus pond, following in the footsteps of André Gide and Paul Valéry, two illustrious lovers of the garden. Attached to the Faculty of Medicine, this space, once entirely dedicated to research and teaching, continues to attract researchers from all over the world.

The waterwheel and the "Tomb of Narcissa" Adorned with hardy succulent plants and surrounded by reconstructed arcades, the south waterwheel is an ancient well. It overlooks a discreet monument shrouded in mystery: the "Tomb of Narcissa." Legend has it that Edward Young, English poet and author of The Nights, secretly buried his stepdaughter, who had died of tuberculosis, there one night in 1736.
The observatory
Photos © UM – David Richard / Transit
The English garden and the Martins greenhouse. This garden consists of vast lawns, tall trees, and beds of perennials that have been added to the grassy areas. Near the large pond where lotus flowers bloom stands the rotunda of the former astronomical observatory. The Martins greenhouse houses a collection of succulents: cacti, agaves, and aloes from all the dry regions of the globe represent the large cohort of plants that have adapted to the lack of water.
The Orangery At the heart of the garden, the Orangery, designed to house plants that are fairly resistant to the cold but cannot withstand the winters in Montpellier, offers visitors the beauty of its pure lines and deliberate simplicity. Built by renowned architect Claude-Mathieu de la Gardette, this large building was completed in 1806.

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