Parks and gardens
MONTPELLIER - Montpellier

The Montpellier Botanical Garden is one of the oldest in Europe. It was created by order of Henri IV in 1593 for Pierre Richer de Belleval (1564- 1632). At the time it served as a model for designing all the botanical gardens in France, including the one in Paris 40 years later. Originally of limited size, the garden occupied around one hectare with one main butte - the "mountain" - plus space for a plant collection. Over the years the garden area grew to include a systems school, an arboretum, and a landscaped park. Now the property of the University of Montpellier I, the garden is classified as a Historical Monument and Protected Site.