The Retreat Garden

The garden of the Retraite

The Quimper audio-guided tour invites you to a break at the garden of the Retraite, an oasis of greenery and calm nestled behind a piece of medieval rampart.

Three thematic gardens

Well sheltered behind a piece of thirteenth-century rampart, the garden of the Retraite unfolds over some four thousand five hundred square metres three thematic gardens. By crossing a gate or climbing a few steps, one passes from the subtropical garden and its banana trees to the palm grove, then to the dry garden planted with species from Australia and South Africa. A veritable oasis come from the four corners of the world, subjected to the Breton climate, which makes all its surprise. Opened in 1979, the garden was formerly the property of canons, then of the congregation of the Ladies of the Retraite, from whom it takes its name; it is inspired by the acclimatisation gardens that appeared in the sixteenth century.

What there is to see

The garden of the Retraite offers an interlude of calm and exoticism in the heart of Quimper, with its three thematic gardens, its banana trees, its palm trees and its plants from the end of the world. Nestled behind a medieval rampart, it is a surprising haven of peace, ideal for a breather away from the bustle of the streets. A green stop not to be missed.

Practical information

The garden of the Retraite is in the centre of Quimper, behind a piece of medieval rampart. A public garden, it can be walked freely, according to opening hours that may vary with the season; it includes steps connecting its different levels.

What is found at the garden of the Retraite?

Three thematic gardens: a subtropical garden, a palm grove and a dry garden, over some four thousand five hundred square metres.

Where does the name of the garden of the Retraite come from?

From the congregation of the Ladies of the Retraite, who owned it; the garden opened to the public in 1979.