It was created by Pierre Richer de Belleval, a botanist who served as physician to King Henry IV.
The garden was originally modeled after the botanical garden in Padua, Italy.
It contains the 'Mountain of the Queen,' a specific micro-environment created to support shade-loving Mediterranean species.
The site houses over 2,000 species of plants, including rare specimens sourced during historical scientific expeditions.
The orangery serves as a significant example of 19th-century horticultural architecture used to protect citrus trees during winter.
It functions as a living laboratory for the University of Montpellier's medical and pharmacy students.
The garden was the first of its kind in France, preceding the Jardin des Plantes in Paris by several decades.
The Jardin des Plantes de Montpellier is the oldest botanical garden in France, established in 1593 under King Henry IV. It serves as an academic research facility managed by the University of Montpellier's Faculty of Medicine. The 4.5-hectare site features a diverse collection of Mediterranean, exotic, and greenhouse-housed flora. Key structures include the 19th-century orangery and the systematic garden designed for botanical study. The grounds incorporate historic features like the Mountain of the Queen, an artificial hill built for the cultivation of shade-loving plants. It remains a center for both scientific preservation and public education. The garden is listed as a French Historic Monument. Its layout reflects centuries of horticultural evolution, including various thematic collections. Visitors can explore winding pathways, century-old trees, and traditional reflecting pools.
The central reflecting pool flanked by the historic greenhouse facades.
Wear comfortable walking shoes, as the terrain includes gravel paths and slight inclines.
Visit the greenhouses to see the collection of tropical plants that are not native to the local climate.
Check the university's official notice board at the entrance for temporary research closures or student workshop schedules.
Do not attempt to touch or collect seeds/cuttings from the plants, as many are part of active, long-term university research projects.
Closed on Mondays; occasionally closed for university events or private research maintenance.
Respect the 'silence for research' zones; stay on designated gravel paths to avoid damaging rare botanical specimens.
