Caen Botanical Garden
About Caen Botanical Garden
The Caen Botanical Garden (Jardin des Plantes) is one of France's oldest botanical gardens, founded in 1736 on former Caen stone quarries as a teaching garden for medical and pharmacy students. Spanning 3.5 hectares, this remarkable green oasis in the heart of Caen now houses over 8,000 plant species, including regional flora collections, medicinal plants, rock gardens, and exotic greenhouses open daily from 1pm to 5pm. The garden holds the prestigious 'Jardin Remarquable' label and has been certified by the Association of French Botanical Gardens since 1997. Visitors can enjoy free admission year-round, with facilities including picnic areas, playgrounds, ping-pong tables, and accessible paths. Opening hours vary seasonally - the garden opens at 8am on weekdays and 10am on weekends, closing between 5:30pm in winter and 7:30pm in summer. Note that the exotic greenhouses may occasionally close for maintenance works.
Interesting Facts
In one of the garden's small greenhouses, the famous Norman botanist Noel Bernard made a groundbreaking discovery in the early 1900s - he was the first to identify the symbiotic relationship between orchid seeds and fungi, a finding that revolutionized orchid cultivation worldwide. Bernard's research explained why orchid seeds, which contain almost no nutritional reserves, need fungal partners to germinate successfully.
The garden sits on former quarries where the legendary Caen stone was extracted for centuries. This same creamy-white limestone was exported across the English Channel and used to build some of England's most iconic structures, including Westminster Abbey, the Tower of London, and Canterbury Cathedral. The quarry's unique terraced landscape now provides the garden with naturally varied terrain and microclimates.
Planning Your Visit
Opening Hours
Location & Practical Info
Address
5 Place Blot, 14000 Caen, France
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