Jardin des Plantes de Nantes (Botanical Gardens), Nantes (must see)

The Botanical Gardens in Nantes offer seven hectares of lush, landscaped serenity in the heart of the city. Officially created in the early 19th century and opened to the public in 1860, the gardens have become a living museum of plant life and a treasured green space. Towering magnolia and mulberry trees, tulip trees, sequoias, and Japanese maples provide a majestic canopy above flowerbeds, duck ponds, and charming fountains.

At the center of the garden is the Palm Island Greenhouse, a 19th-century glass hothouse filled with tall palm trees and furnished with tables and chairs for relaxation. Families can also enjoy a children’s playground and a small petting area with goats at the northern end. A standout feature is The Procession Benches, a playful series of seats that grow in size from miniature to gigantic, inviting visitors to pause and enjoy the scenery.

The gardens are home to 10,000 plant species and more than 50,000 flowers planted each season. Greenhouses span 800 m² and host collections such as 600 varieties of camellias and a range of orchids. Notable botanical highlights include the 200-year-old Hectot magnolia, the towering Virginia tulip tree, and the rare Wollemi pine, planted in 2009-one of fewer than a hundred known in the wild.