Parks and gardens
The art of gardens in Finistère
In Finistère, parks and gardens are full of fabulous and sometimes daring botanical specimens. Plants brought back by the great navigators of the 1600s and 1700s often flourish here, far from their native lands. North Finistère has a feel of the southern hemisphere, as you find yourself in the midst of exotic landscapes in the gardens of Roscoff or the Ile de Batz. A thousand and one scents also guide you to discover extraordinary settings like the Domaine de Trévarez, especially when their exceptional collections of camellias and rhododendrons are in full bloom. Near the Breton Riviera, in Gouesnac’h, Boutiguery floral park covers nearly 50 acres on the banks of the River Odet, offering a truly stunning palette of colours, textures and fragrances every spring. The Boutiguery estate has 40,000 plants, the largest collection of rhododendrons and azaleas in France. Not far away, in Combrit, the exotic and aquatic gardens of Cornouaille Botanical Park cultivate 4,000 species, that’s 25,000 plants from all over the world. As for Brest’s Botanical Conservatory, it has been working for nearly 50 years to protect endangered species, telling their story and raising awareness of their fragility.
Exceptional gardens
These exceptional gardens are designed and shaped by collectors and enthusiasts to create regular geometric effects, as in the ‘Jardin de Simples’ herb garden at Daoulas Abbey. close by, other gardens break from the traditional rules of composition to blend into the landscape. This great diversity of gardens in Finistère subtly combines botanical knowledge, the art of combining colours, respect for nature and also a bit of luck! Some are even places where endangered plants are carefully nurtured and where many researchers and botanists carry out experiments.
The ‘Remarkable Garden’ label
This label recognises excellence in the upkeep of a garden and its botanical and historical interest. Finistère has seven gardens with this label, all of which are an absolute must for any green-fingered visitor!
Storm Ciaran
Some of our woodlands and forests have suffered during recent severe weather. Finistère authorities are hard at work to ensure these green spaces are all fully accessible again.