Moon bridge of the Japanese garden in Toulouse

The Moon bridge is a red wooden bridge that curves over water in a Japanese garden within Toulouse's Compans-Caffarelli Park, connecting different parts of the grounds. It sits as part of a carefully designed landscape that blends water features, planted areas, and stone pathways into a single composition.

The Japanese garden was created in 1981 based on design ideas from traditional Kyoto gardens that span centuries of Japanese history. The Moon bridge itself draws from this long tradition of garden architecture that uses water and arched structures to shape how people move through space.

The garden uses traditional Japanese design principles that appear in every corner: stone lanterns sit quietly along paths, and a small tea pavilion invites visitors to pause and observe. These elements create a space where you can experience how Japanese gardeners think about natural beauty.

The garden is open to visitors daily and offers several pathways so you can explore different corners and viewpoints throughout the space. The bridge itself is easy to reach, and the park has multiple entrances, making access straightforward for most visitors.

A bronze bust of Zen master Taisen Deshimaru stands in the garden, honoring a figure who founded several Zen centers across France during the 1970s. This sculpture marks an unexpected connection between the garden and the spread of Zen practice into Western Europe during that decade.

Location: Toulouse

GPS coordinates: 43.61186,1.43213

Latest update: December 6, 2025 19:05