History (1593, oldest in France)

The Jardin des Plantes de Montpellier was created in 1593 by the young physician Pierre Richer de Belleval, on the orders of King Henri IV, as a place to grow medicinal plants and advance the study of health. That founding date makes it the oldest botanical garden in France — inspired by the Orto Botanico di Padova (1545) and, in turn, the model for the Jardin des Plantes in Paris, established around 1626, more than three decades later.

From the start the garden was bound to Montpellier's medical faculty, one of the oldest continuously operating medical schools in the world. Generations of doctors and botanists trained among its beds, and the link endures today: the garden is managed by the University of Montpellier. In 2022 it was certified a "Jardin Remarquable" (Remarkable Garden) for five years, recognising both its scientific collections and its heritage value.

What to See

The garden covers roughly 4.5 hectares and holds around 2,680 plant species — about 2,000 grown outdoors and another 1,000 under glass. Highlights for visitors include:

• The systematic garden and medicinal plant beds — the scholarly heart of the collection, laid out to teach plant families and their uses.
• The Mediterranean collection — some 500 species native to the region, well suited to Montpellier's climate.
• The historic greenhouse — a monumental glasshouse completed in 1860, sheltering tropical and tender species.
• The arboretum — mature trees and shaded walks that make the garden a genuine retreat from the city streets.
• The Cistaceae collection and ornamental ponds — quieter corners that reward a slow afternoon stroll.

Opening Hours & Entry (why it opens at noon)

Admission is free, and the garden is open Tuesday to Sunday (closed Mondays). Verified 2026 hours:

• Summer (1 June – 30 September): 12:00 to 20:00
• Winter (1 October – 31 May): 12:00 to 18:00

The noon opening surprises many first-time visitors. The garden keeps an afternoon-only schedule because it is a working scientific and teaching collection first and a public park second: mornings are reserved for university maintenance, research, and curatorial work, with the gates opening to the public at midday once that work is done. Plan accordingly — there is no point arriving before noon, and in winter the garden closes by 18:00, so an early-afternoon visit gives you the most daylight.

Getting There

The Jardin des Plantes sits on Boulevard Henri IV, immediately north of Montpellier's historic centre and beside the Cathédrale Saint-Pierre and the medical faculty. From the central Place de la Comédie it is about a 10–15 minute walk uphill through the old town. The nearest tram stops are on Montpellier's network within a short walk, and the SNCF Montpellier Saint-Roch station is roughly 20 minutes on foot. Because entry is free and it pairs naturally with the neighbouring cathedral, it slots easily into a wider walk through the city's monuments.