Square Arsène Vermenouze, Garden square in Aurillac, France
Place Arsène Vermenouze is a garden square in the center of Aurillac, in the Cantal department of France. It features winding paths, grass, flower beds and large trees, including a blue cedar and a giant sequoia, arranged in the informal English garden style.
The square was laid out in 1877 by Jean-Charles Adolphe Alphand, a landscape architect known for his work on the parks of Paris. Over time it was renamed after Arsène Vermenouze, a local poet closely tied to the culture of the Cantal.
The square is named after Arsène Vermenouze, an Occitan poet from Cantal who celebrated his home region through his writing. Locals use it as a regular gathering spot, meeting on benches or watching children play in the shade of the large trees.
The square is easy to reach on foot from most parts of central Aurillac and is free to enter year-round. In the evening, spotlights illuminate the trees, so a visit after dark gives a different impression than during the day.
The square holds one of the few giant sequoias growing in the middle of a French town center, planted there since the 19th century. Garden specialists also create seasonal plant mosaics, arranging flowers and shrubs into geometric patterns that change throughout the year.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
