Square Planchon, Garden square in central Montpellier, France.
Square Planchon is a green space in central Montpellier with a triangular shape, scattered benches beneath shade trees, and a water basin at its heart. The basin has moss-covered surfaces and is surrounded by less common tree species that create a woodland feel in the middle of the city.
In 1632 the Protestant community was granted land here, used as a cemetery for fifty years. Under mayor Jules Pagézy the municipal council voted on 6 July 1857 to buy the plots before the 1844 station, and the square opened in 1858, laid out by landscape gardeners Denis and Eugène Bühler. It was named after botanist Jules Émile Planchon in 1910.
The square was renamed in 1910 after botanist Jules Émile Planchon (1823-1888), who helped revive French viticulture after the phylloxera epidemic. Its nickname, square du chemin de fer, recalls its origin beside the 1844 station. The triangular garden, designed by the Bühler brothers, was conceived as an arboretum of exotic species linked to the cities of the East India trade.
This square sits near the main train station with direct access via multiple tram lines and bus routes. A bike-sharing station on the grounds makes it easy to explore the city center by bicycle or continue your journey by foot.
The mossy islet began as a rock about fifty centimetres wide, enlarged over time by limestone deposits from a fountain jet and by moss. The basin floor was built with stones from the old fish market that once stood where the Halles Castellane now are. The pool measures 21 metres across.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 93,783 contributors worldwide.
