Gardens of Lights, Garden in Bordeaux, France
The Jardins des Lumières is a garden along the Quai Louis XVIII in Bordeaux, running from the Rue Esprit des Lois to the Maison Ecocitoyenne near the Place des Quinconces. It is laid out in parallel bands of plants, mixing annuals, perennials, grasses, and trees with more than 33,000 plants in total.
The land where the garden now stands was once part of Bordeaux's working port, with warehouses and cranes lining the riverfront. Work to transform the area began in 2007, turning a largely abandoned industrial zone into a public walkway along the Garonne.
The Jardins des Lumières runs along the Garonne River, following its curve in a shape that looks like a crescent moon from above. This connection to the river shapes how people use the space, as most visitors walk along the water's edge rather than cutting through the interior.
The garden is open every day and free to enter, so there is no need to plan ahead. Getting there on foot or by public transport is the easiest option, as the site sits close to the center of Bordeaux and has no dedicated parking.
Before the garden was planted, the chosen species were tested for several years at the municipal growing center in Le Haillan to make sure they would thrive in this specific setting. The soil was also prepared using old-fashioned techniques, closer to the methods of horse-drawn plowing than modern machinery.
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