JARDIN BOTANIQUE GONDREMER

At the bottom of a Vosges valley, on a wild and marshy land, Michel and Gisèle Madre created this garden where some 4,000 mountain plants from the four corners of the globe delight visitors. In 1975, the owners began work on the garden. To create an aquatic architecture, a pond and several basins were dug. Within a few years, the Gondremer garden became one of France's leading botanical gardens for the cultivation of heathland plants. In 1994, the garden's collections of Japanese maples, botanical rhododendrons, Kalmia and bogEricaceae were recognized as national collections by the Conservatoire français des collections végétales spécialisées (CCVS). Please note: the entrance fee may seem high, but the Gondremer garden receives no subsidies, and its collections are enriched with new species every year, which means ever-increasing costs.

A shimmering valley. In the heart of this valley transformed into a paradise, the four seasons leave no respite for the eyes. Tall trees encircle a pond in which the most astonishingly colorful flowers are reflected. At the end of summer, hydrangeas bloom, and autumn gently settles in under the foliage of maples in shades of purple, orange or yellow. In October, the landscape comes to life. The harsh winter lays a blanket of snow over the pure beauty of the valley, revealing only the shades of green of the majestic conifers. The return of spring is accompanied by the flowering of prunus, the first rhododendrons, azaleas and magnolias. At the end of April, the colors of the Japanese maples are as unforgettable as the approach of autumn. In May, an explosion of color welcomes the return of the sun: reds, pinks, oranges and yellows color Gondremer's landscape. A circuit of 50 remarkable trees has also been laid out in the garden. In addition to the remarkable spectacle offered by the site, walkers can also venture along the meandering botanical trail. Here, they can admire collections of rhododendrons and wild azaleas. Water features, a waterfall, a bridge and a wooden house round off a charming visit. The Gondremer botanical garden is also dedicated to the conservation of young, fragile plants.