Jardin des Plantes de Nantes
Established in 1807 and covering seven hectares in the heart of the city, the Jardin des Plantes de Nantes is consistently ranked among the finest botanical gardens in France. It holds one of Europe's largest camellia collections — over 300 varieties — and a Victoria amazonica water lily pool that draws gasps every summer.
Highlights Through the Seasons
February and March bring the camellia season, when the garden erupts in reds, pinks and whites — a spectacle made more surreal by the fact that it's still technically winter. The collection is so significant that Nantes hosts an annual Rendez-vous aux Jardins festival around it each spring.
In summer the greenhouses shelter tropical species including the giant Victoria amazonica lily pads, large enough for a small child to stand on. The outdoor rose garden and the English-style landscape section with its ancient plane trees are at their best in June and July.
Sculptures, Elephants and Quiet Corners
The garden is dotted with 19th-century sculptures and — in a delightful Nantes quirk — two resident Asian elephants in a large enclosure near the eastern entrance. The elephants have been a fixture here since 1865, making this one of the oldest elephant facilities in France.
Find the quiet northern section beyond the greenhouses: a sunken garden with a small pond, wooden benches and almost no tourists. It's the kind of place locals bring a book and stay for two hours. Picnicking is permitted on the lawns.
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