Tropical greenhouse, Greenhouse in Clermont-Ferrand, France
The Serre Tropicale is a greenhouse on the grounds of the Michelin headquarters in Clermont-Ferrand, France, where visitors can walk among tropical plants, with a focus on rubber trees. The structure is built with large glass panels held by metal frames, and winding walkways guide visitors through different sections of the collection.
The Serre Tropicale was built to shelter tropical plants from the cold local climate and has been closely tied to Michelin, whose support helped fund the space and its maintenance over the years. Over time, it shifted from a purely botanical shelter to a place that explains the origins of rubber to the general public.
The Serre Tropicale sits on the Michelin company grounds in Clermont-Ferrand and shows visitors where the raw material for tires and everyday objects actually comes from. Inside, a short film tells the story of rubber trees, while the Café Equateur offers tropical foods like Bahia chocolate and Indonesian coconut to taste.
A guided visit lasts around an hour and a half, and booking ahead is recommended since group sizes are limited. Children under 7 enter for free, and the space is accessible for visitors with reduced mobility.
The Serre Tropicale houses the actual rubber trees whose sap is the raw material behind the tires made by the company whose headquarters stands right next door. Visitors can stand beside the same species of tree that supplies one of the most used materials in modern industry.
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