Jardin Botanique de l'Université de Strasbourg

The Jardin Botanique de l'Université de Strasbourg is a small, quiet botanical garden in the university district, about a kilometre from the cathedral, and it is among the oldest gardens of its kind in France. The university first created a garden of medicinal plants in the early seventeenth century, to teach students of medicine, and the botanical tradition continued through the centuries. The present garden dates from the 1880s, when Strasbourg belonged to the German Empire and the city was being enlarged with the new district known as the Neustadt, with grand buildings for the new university. The botanist Anton de Bary, one of the founders of modern mycology, played a part in its design, and a large greenhouse was named after him.

The garden covers a few hectares and is laid out with paths, lawns and trees, and with collections arranged for study. It includes beds of plants grouped by family or by region, medicinal plants, aquatic plants and a collection of trees and shrubs, and many specimens carry labels that give their scientific and common names. It is a working part of the university, so it is used by students and researchers, and the plants are chosen for research and teaching more than for show. For that reason, it offers a quieter and more educational atmosphere than a formal garden or a public park, and visitors can enjoy the shade of old trees and the variety of plants.

The Anton de Bary greenhouse, a historic building of iron and glass which is protected as a monument historique, has been closed to the public since 2011, so access is mostly limited to the outdoor areas. Opening hours are limited and vary by season, and the garden may be open only in the afternoon on certain months, so check the official website or the information at the gate before you go.

The garden is best in spring and early summer, when the flowering plants are at their peak, and in autumn, when the trees change colour. A visit takes less than an hour. There are benches where you can rest, and the setting is peaceful, close to the university buildings, in an area of fine nineteenth-century architecture.

It suits plant lovers, students and anyone who wants a quiet corner away from the tourist crowds of the old town. The Palais Universitaire and the Neustadt, with its grand German-era buildings, are within walking distance, and the Parc de l'Orangerie, the Palais Rohan and the Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Strasbourg are a short tram ride or a longer walk away.