Jardin des Plantes (Garden of Plants), Lyon

The Garden of Plants (Jardin des Plantes), once a prominent botanical garden, now serves as a public garden in the Croix-Rousse district of Lyon. Established on the lower slopes of Croix-Rousse, it holds historical significance as the precursor to the current botanical garden situated in Lyon's Tête d'Or Park since 1857.

The garden's origins date back to the 18th century, when botanist Jean-Emmanuel Gilibert aspired to establish a botanical garden in Lyon. His initial attempt in 1765 to create this garden in the Brotteaux district was unsuccessful. However, the project gained momentum on August 20, 1796, when the department officially decided to create the garden. Gilibert was instrumental in this development, leading the installation of both exotic and native plants on the grounds of the Oratory. Later, the garden was relocated to its present location on the site of the former convent of the Ladies of the Desert.

Around 1820, the Garden of Plants opened its doors to the public, offering a diverse collection of flora. However, by 1857, the limited space and inability to expand prompted Claude-Marius Vaïsse, the prefect at the time, to relocate its extensive collection of 4000 plants to the then-developing Tête-d'Or park. This relocation marked the birth of the Lyon botanical garden as it is known today, continuing the legacy of the original Garden of Plants in Lyon.