Espace Pierres Folles, Geological museum and botanical garden in Saint-Jean-des-Vignes, France.
Espace Pierres Folles combines a geological museum and botanical garden on a former cement factory site. The museum displays rocks and fossils from the region, while the garden grows hundreds of plant species in different sections reflecting local soil types.
The project started in 1988 with a geological trail showing fossils from the area, and the museum core opened in 1992. This transformation of an old industrial site into an educational space marked a new chapter for the location.
The site shows how soil, plants, and wine production connect in this region. You can observe how the rock types and ground conditions shape which plants grow here and influence local farming methods.
You can move between indoor museum spaces with rock collections and outdoor garden sections with different plant zones. The site is undergoing renovations until spring 2025, so check availability before visiting.
The garden sections are designed to recreate the natural soil types found in southern Beaujolais. This allows visitors to see which plants naturally thrive in each type of ground.
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