Jaÿsinia

Jaÿsinia is a botanical garden on limestone slopes in Samoëns that spreads across roughly 3.7 hectares on a hillside. It holds around 8,000 mountain plants from five continents arranged along about 3 kilometers of walking paths.

The garden was established in 1906 by Marie-Louise Cognac-Jaÿ, founder of the Parisian department store La Samaritaine, on a hillside where she herded goats as a child. This personal connection shaped her decision to create this botanical space.

The garden is named after its founder and visitors experience it as a place where mountain plants and old structures coexist naturally. Walking the paths, one encounters both flora and historic buildings arranged across the hillside.

The garden is open daily from May through October, with longer hours during summer months and shorter times in late fall. From November through April, visits occur under different conditions, so checking opening times beforehand is important.

Medieval ruins sit scattered among the plant collections, including a 12th-century castle and a 1687 chapel. These historical remains are woven into the garden design and feel like organic parts of the landscape.

Location: Samoëns

Inception: 1906

Founders: Marie-Louise Jaÿ

Accessibility: Wheelchair inaccessible

Address: rue du Parc

Opening Hours: May 1-October 30: 08:00-12:00, 13:30-19:00; November 1-April 30: 08:00-12:00, 13:30-16:30

Phone: +33450344986

Email: jba.lajaysinia@mairiedesamoens.fr

Website: https://samoens.com/jardin-botanique-alpin-de-la-jaysinia

GPS coordinates: 46.08500,6.72650

Latest update: December 8, 2025 21:03