Bordeaux is a city of stone, which makes the Jardin Public a valuable change of scene. It was created in 1746 and designed by the landscape architect Ange-Jacques Gabriel, and the city describes it as the first garden in France planned from the start to be open to the public. It began as a formal French garden and was reworked in an English landscape style in 1858 under the architect Louis-Bernard Fischer, the same year that the city’s old botanical garden, once used to train apothecaries and doctors, moved here. Today it covers about 10.8 hectares in the heart of the city, with some 150 species of trees, two of them labelled remarkable trees of France, and a serpentine basin of about a hectare with an artificial waterfall and three wrought-iron bridges. For children there is a puppet theatre, play areas and an old-fashioned carousel, and a small electric boat carries up to twelve passengers on the lake. The garden also contains the Muséum de Bordeaux, devoted to science and nature, housed in the Hôtel de Lisleferme built in 1781. It is free to wander, and it is a favourite place for locals to walk, read and meet.
How to visit
The main address is Cours de Verdun, 33300 Bordeaux, with other entrances on place Bardineau, rue du Jardin public, place du Champ de Mars and rue d’Aviau. The garden is open daily, from 7:00 with seasonal closing times: 20:00 in April, May and September, 21:00 from June to August, 19:00 in October and from mid-February to March, and 18:00 from November to mid-February.
The boat, called Va, Petit Mousse, runs from 10:00 to 12:30 and 13:00 to 18:00, daily during school holidays and otherwise on Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays, at 3.50 euros per person according to the city. The city page mentions no admission charge for the garden itself.
What to expect
A green, shaded space of lawns, tree-lined paths and water, with the lake as the focal point. It is a gentle visit rather than a headline sight, and it works best as a pause in a day of walking. The café in the Orangerie provides refreshments, and the museum offers an indoor option, though you should check its hours and tickets separately. In winter the garden closes early, at 18:00, so go in the afternoon with time to spare.
Making the most of it
Bring children for the carousel, the puppet theatre and the boat, and bring a picnic if the weather is fine. Couples will enjoy the lake and the bridges in the soft light of late afternoon, and plant lovers should look for the labelled trees.
The garden sits a short walk from the Place des Quinconces and the Golden Triangle, and the Palais Gallien and several hotels are nearby, so it fits easily into a day on foot. It is a good recovery stop after a morning of tastings or a long museum visit.
Beyond the main attractions, the garden is a good place simply to sit. Benches are scattered along the paths, the shade is generous in summer and the lake draws birds and photographers in all seasons. On a winter afternoon the low light on the water and the bare trees can be strikingly beautiful, even if the closing time comes early. If you are travelling with a pushchair, the main paths are level and wide, and the garden is a sound choice when you need a slow hour after a day of museums and streets.
What to expect
The experience
A free walk through a historic city garden with a lake, a carousel, a puppet theatre and a natural history museum.
Best time
Late afternoon in soft light, or a fine morning with children.
How long
One to two hours.
Tips
Check seasonal closing times, which fall as early as 18:00 from November to mid-February. The boat runs on limited days outside school holidays.
Quick picks
- Best for
- Families and anyone who needs a green break between sights.
- Families
- The carousel, puppet theatre, boat and play areas make it the best family stop in the centre.
- Couples
- A quiet stroll around the lake and over the iron bridges.
- Pair with
- The Place des Quinconces and the Golden Triangle.
- Time needed
- One to two hours.
Good questions
When was the Jardin Public created?+
In 1746, designed by Ange-Jacques Gabriel. The city describes it as the first garden in France planned from the start for public use.
What is there to do?+
Walk the lake and the paths, ride the carousel, see the puppet theatre, take the electric boat or visit the natural history museum.
What are the opening hours?+
The garden opens daily from 7:00, closing between 18:00 in winter and 21:00 in summer, depending on the season.
How much is the boat?+
The city gives 3.50 euros per person, with hours that vary outside school holidays.
Where is the entrance?+
The main address is Cours de Verdun, with further entrances on place Bardineau, rue du Jardin public, place du Champ de Mars and rue d’Aviau.
