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[LUM#7] An Extraordinary Garden

[] - Published on in Heritage, Science and Society

From Narcissa’s Tomb to the Martins Conservatory, via the Orangery—are you sure you know all the secrets of the University of Montpellier’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 University of Montpellier’s Jardin des Plantes covers nearly 5 hectares. For visitors, this green oasis is an extraordinary garden in the heart of the city. People come here to stroll in the shade of the bamboo grove or along the shaded paths of the English garden, to admire the Martins Greenhouse and its succulent plants, or to daydream by the lotus pond, following in the footsteps of André Gide and Paul Valéry, two illustrious lovers of the Garden. Affiliated with the Faculty of Medicine, this space—once entirely dedicated to research and teaching—continues to attract researchers from around the world.

The noria and the “Tomb of Narcissa” Adorned with hardy succulents and surrounded by reconstructed arches, the South Noria is an ancient well. It overlooks a discreet monument shrouded in mystery: the “Tomb of Narcissa.” Legend has it that Edward Young, the English poet and author of *The Nights*, secretly buried his stepdaughter there one night in 1736 after she died of tuberculosis.
The Observatory
Photos © UM – David Richard / Transit
The English Garden and the Martins Greenhouse. This garden features expansive lawns, tall trees, and beds of perennials that have taken root in 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”: originating from all the arid regions of the globe, cacti, agaves, and other aloes represent the vast array of plants that have adapted to water scarcity.
The Orangery Located at the heart of the garden, the Orangery—designed to house plants that are fairly cold-hardy, though not hardy enough to withstand Montpellier’s winters—delights visitors with its clean lines and deliberate simplicity. Built by the renowned architect Claude-Mathieu de la Gardette, this grand building was completed in 1806.

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