Botanical Garden (Part 1)

Among the 82 botanical gardens in France and French-speaking countries, Montpellier is home to the very oldest — and with over 400 years of history, it’s something the city is truly proud of. The garden was created in 1593 by botanist Pierre Richer de Belleval, at the request of King Henry IV. Back then, it was much smaller and laid out over five terraces where “simples,” or medicinal herbs, were grown. It was the first royal garden in France created to teach plant science to future doctors, and later inspired many others — most notably the Jardin des Plantes in Paris. In 1622, the Siege of Montpellier — a key moment in the Wars of Religion — left the garden in ruins. King Louis XIII, determined to reassert Catholic rule, led an army against the Protestant stronghold. After the city surrendered, Richer de Belleval had to start over. In 1629, with the help of botanist Pierre Magnol — the first to introduce the concept of plant families — the garden was rebuilt and expanded. Over the 17th and 18th centuries, it evolved further thanks to a series of renowned physicians and botanists. A 49-meter-long orangery was added to protect citrus trees in winter, along with a 300-square-meter greenhouse for cacti and dry-climate plants, and one of the first astronomical domes in southern France. Today, the garden is still connected to the Faculty of Medicine and continues to play an educational role. It spans 4.6 hectares and is home to over 3,000 plant species, including rare and endangered varieties, as well as centuries-old trees. Listed as a protected site since 1984 and a historical monument since 1992, the Montpellier Botanical Garden is without a doubt one of the city’s most beautiful green treasures.