Prieuré of Orsan, Medieval priory and gardens in Maisonnais, France
The Prieuré of Orsan spans extensive grounds featuring traditional monastic gardens with winding paths, handcrafted trellises, and seasonal flowering plants across multiple sections.
Founded in 1107 by Robert of Arbrissel as part of the Fontevraud Order, the priory contained his heart as a relic until the French Revolution disrupted activities.
The gardens maintain medieval monastery traditions through dedicated spaces for kitchen plants, medicinal herbs, fruit trees, and contemplative areas following historical manuscripts.
Visitors can explore the grounds from Monday to Friday between 11 AM and 6 PM, while weekend hours extend from 10 AM to 7 PM, with last entry one hour before closing.
The restoration project, started in 1991, transformed ruins into gardens where every element, from gates to bed borders, uses branches from the property.
Location: Maisonnais
Address: Orsan
GPS coordinates: 46.67670,2.21910
Latest update: June 23, 2025 09:46
France has a notable horticultural heritage expressed through gardens of various styles spread across the country. This collection includes historical creations like the Renaissance gardens of Villandry, urban parks such as the Parc de la Tête d'Or in Lyon with its 290 acres and four tropical greenhouses, as well as mountain gardens like the Jardin Alpin in Chamonix. Visitors also discover specialized sites, including the Val-de-Marne Rose Garden with 3,300 rose varieties organized by historical periods. These spaces exhibit considerable botanical diversity, from the Mediterranean collections at Domaine du Rayol on the Côte d'Azur to tropical plants at the Serres d'Auteuil in Paris. Some gardens like the Jardin des Plantes in Nantes host more than 10,000 species from different climates, while others focus on specific collections like magnolias and hydrangeas at the Gaston Allard Arboretum in Angers. These sites combine scientific interest, botanical conservation, and the pleasure of strolling, offering visitors the chance to explore the plant richness of the entire world within carefully arranged settings.
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