The Retreat Garden

City center and tranquility don’t usually go hand in hand—but in Quimper, the Retreat Garden proves otherwise. Even its name invites calm. Sheltered behind a stretch of 13th-century ramparts, this 4,500-square-meter green space opens onto three themed gardens, each offering its own immersive atmosphere. By stepping through a gate or climbing a few steps, you can wander through the subtropical garden with its banana trees, the palm grove dotted with various palm species, or the dry garden filled with plants from the southern hemisphere—think Australia, South Africa, and beyond. A true oasis of greenery from all corners of the world, thriving under the famously unpredictable Breton skies—it’s intriguing, to say the least. Opened in 1979, the Retreat Garden once belonged to local clergy and later to the Sisters of the Retreat, from whom it takes its name. It’s inspired by 16th-century acclimatization gardens—green havens where plant species brought back by great explorers were tested to see if they could adapt to new environments. Those that survived were then cultivated and shared across the country. Peaceful and proudly international, the Retreat Garden remains a surprising and refreshing stop even today. Speaking of surprises, don’t forget to head down to the lower section of the garden—it’s the only way to see the Nevet Tower, the last remaining defensive tower from medieval Quimper’s fortifications.