Jardin extraordinaire, Urban park in Chantenay district, Nantes, France.
Jardin extraordinaire is an urban park in the Chantenay district that occupies a former granite quarry with steep rock walls rising around the space. Tropical plants and large-leaf vegetation grow throughout the site, connected by observation platforms that allow visitors to move between different levels of the former excavation.
The site began as an active granite extraction area during Nantes' industrial period in the early 20th century. The quarrying operations left behind the steep rock walls that now form the foundation of the garden's layout.
The space is used as a place where visitors stroll through pathways carved between stone walls, discovering how tropical plants have reclaimed this former quarry. People move through multiple levels, using the platforms to take in the plants and the stone landscape together.
The garden can be entered from multiple points, including an access from Rue de l'Hermitage and another at the Lusançay steps level. Exploring on foot is straightforward with established pathways connecting the different elevations of the quarry.
A waterfall drops through the garden reaching about 25 meters, creating a flowing water presence within the stone cliff setting. Banana trees and tree ferns reinforce the tropical feeling and give an unexpected jungle appearance to this former industrial site.
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