Parc du Mugel, Botanical garden in La Ciotat, France.
Parc du Mugel is a botanical garden overlooking the Calanque du Mugel in La Ciotat, displaying Mediterranean and tropical plant species across its landscape. The garden spans about 12 hectares of hillside terrain with different planting zones throughout the property.
The garden began as private land before being converted by La Ciotat into a public botanical space available to all. The city has continued to maintain and grow the plant collection since taking over the property.
The garden arranges fragrant plants in traditional Mediterranean patterns that reflect centuries of horticultural knowledge specific to this region. Visitors walk through these carefully composed zones as they would have been tended by local growers for generations.
The park is accessible from early morning until evening, with different hours for summer and winter seasons, and offers picnic areas and spaces for children. Wear comfortable shoes since the terrain is hilly with walking paths connecting the different plant zones.
The garden sits in a special location between hilltop and sea that creates a gentle climate allowing plants to grow that would struggle elsewhere in the region. This natural setting lets you see tropical species thriving alongside Mediterranean plants in a way that feels unexpected.
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