Nantes: City of Gardens
Camillas, peonies, magnolias—Nantes abounds with vegetation and public gardens. In the 18th-century, thanks to international arrivals at the port, people in Nantes were able to access, plant, and care for plants from all over the world. Careful tending, a mild climate, and city planning resulted in a city of approximately 100 public gardens. Le Jardin des Plantes, centrally located across from the train station, is extensive and overwhelming: 10,000 varieties of plants and 50,000 flowers, multiple greenhouses, and a splendid café overlooking the 17-acre park. This botanical garden is the ideal spot to spend a breezy afternoon.
Allison Connolly is Associate Professor of French and Humanities at Centre College in Danville, Kentucky.
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