The gardens at the Villa Thuret.
Jardin Botanique de la Villa Thuret: Côte d’Azur’s Naturalist Garden
In 1857, Gustave Thuret, a botanist and specialist in algal biology, created the Villa Thuret in Antibes, France. In the gardens Mr. Thuret and his assistant Edouard Borne conducted systematic acclimatisation trials on exotic plants in collaboration with the Museum of Paris. In fact, it was the first privately funded research laboratory in France.
In 1878, control of the Villa Thuret transferred to the French state and it is now permanently dedicated to higher education and the research of botany and acclimatisation. The French National Agronomic Research Institute (INRA) manages the research laboratories, herbarium, library, and botanic garden.
The garden, through the introduction of exotic species, has made a significant contribution to creating the current landscape of the Côte d’Azur and the rise of Mediterranean horticulture.
What to Expect
At just 3.5 hectares (8.5+ acres), Villa Thuret is a relatively small garden. But beware, if you’re expecting beautifully manicured lawns and perfectly curated plants, you’ll be disappointed. In fact, Villa Thuret is probably more accurately categorised a naturalist garden instead of a botanical garden.
This is because the caretakers of the garden practice naturalist techniques, which encourage harmony between the plants and their environment. To that end, they allow the plants to grow freely and to acclimatise to the local environment. Pruning is rare and only done for the safety of visitors. Moreover, plants are only watered during the first few years after planting to help the plants become established.
Wild grasses and flowers (and weeds) protect the soil from erosion and leaf and bark litter is left as it falls. These techniques help create a meadow-like environment that changes during the course of the year: green and covered with flowers in the spring and autumn, and dry during the summer.
Villa Thuret’s Plants
I find Mediterranean plants totally fascinating. They have morphological and physiological characteristics which enable them to tolerate hot, dry summers and cool, wet winters. These characteristics include leaves oriented perpendicular to the ground to limit direct exposure to the midday sun. Similarly, leaves are often smaller or narrower to decrease their surface area and hence transpiration, and often covered by a thick cuticle, essential oils, and hairs to protect them and decrease transpiration.
Furthermore, the phenological cycle may also be reversed to that of plants in more temperate climates, such that the plant grows in the winter, but not during the summer. Mediterranean plants tend to rest during the summer.
To clarify, a Mediterranean plant is a bit of a misnomer as they are plants that thrive in a Mediterranean-type climate (i.e., hot, dry summers and cool, wet winters). Places other than the Mediterranean that have this type of climate include Western Australia, South Africa, Central Chile, and the Western Coast of the United States.
Wandering around the Villa Thuret and looking for the often unusual physiological adaptations of the plants is like spending an afternoon in a science lab.
Tanacetum vulgare (tansy golden buttons).
Russell juncea (coral plant or firecracker plant).
Encephalartos horridus (Eastern Cape blue cycad or ferocious blue cycad).
An unidentified cycad (left) and Doryanthes excelsa (gymea lily – top and right).
The spiky foliage of the Dasylirion cedrosanum (Mexican grass tree).
Cestrum parqui (green cestrum or willow-leaved jessamine).
The papery yet spongy bark of the Melaleuca styphelioides (prickly-leaved paperbark) – a personal favourite.
Acacia karroo (sweet thorn).
Araucaria araucana (monkey puzzle tree) – notice the waxy leaves.
Villa Thuret’s Garden Sculpture
If visiting a science lab doesn’t appeal to you, the Villa Thuret also hosts beautiful sculpture and garden art from local artists. Sadly, the sculptures are not marked with any information about the artist nor the art itself. Some pieces are dramatic. Some are playful. Nevertheless, I really enjoyed them.
While the naturalist approach of the Villa Thuret is different from traditional botanical gardens, it’s definitely worth a visit. So just manage your expectations. While the plants aren’t perfectly pruned and the paths aren’t meticulously maintained, you will find a tremendous display of Mediterranean plants…and sculpture!
PLAN A VISIT
Jardin Botanique de la Villa Thuret
90 Chemin Gustave Raymond
06160 Antibes, France
Telephone: +33 (0)4 97 21 25 00
Jardin Botanique de la Villa Thuret Opening Hours:
The garden is open Monday through Friday (excluding bank holidays) from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. in the winter and from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. in the summer months. Occasionally, however, it is open on weekends so consult their website for the most up-to-date information.
Tickets:
Access to the garden is free of charge while guided tours of eight or more people are available for a nominal fee.
Getting There:
The main entrance to the Villa Thuret is on Chemin Gustave Raymond in Antibes off the Boulevard du Cap. Google Maps
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