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Deep in the heart of the wild and unspoiled Cevennes of Southern France lies a hidden gem that beckons the nature lover in all of us: La Bambouseraie.
This enchanting bamboo garden, one of Europe’s most unique and visually stunning botanical gardens, offers a serene escape into a world where nature’s architecture unfolds in towering green spires and lush, leafy canopies, pond gardens, Japanese gardens, and cool shaded paths lined with spectacular bamboos.
In this guide to visiting La Bambouseraie, we explore the history, the beauty, and how to experience this incredible natural setting in Anduze and discover why it deserves a spot on every traveler’s must-visit list.
What is La Bambouseraie?
Considered one of the most spectacular gardens in France, La Bambouseraie en Cévennes is an exotic garden with a fascinating history.
Established in 1856 by Eugène Mazel, a self-taught botanist who amassed his wealth through the spice trade, La Bambouseraie boasts one of Europe’s most important collections of bamboo.
Mazel dedicated his resources to nurturing this remarkable bamboo collection in an area that is blessed with the perfect micro-climate for growing exotic plants. But tragically, in 1890 financial hardships halted his efforts.
Despite changing hands multiple times after that, the botanical garden has championed the preservation of biodiversity and remains a prestigious showcase for bamboo, with over 1,000 cultivars of bamboo plus many other exotic and endangered plant varieties in its collection, ensuring the garden’s future sustainability.
Today La Bambouseraie is at the heart of the plant world in France and is a designated Historic Monument. The garden is also listed as one of Les Plus Beaux Jardins de France, the most beautiful gardens of France, and is a member of the Sites d’Exception en Languedoc.
You don’t need to be a horticulturist or gardener to enjoy the exotic environment of this extraordinary place. In the heat of summer, the giant plants of the bamboo forest shade the paths and create a cool oasis of calm and tranquility.
Is this your first time visiting France? Get all the information you need in our France Travel Guide, including what to pack, the best time of year to go, getting there and practical tips to help you have the best trip!
Where is La Bambouseraie?
La Bambouseraie is situated north of the pretty town of Anduze, right on the border of the Cevennes National Park in the south of France. It will take around an hour to drive there from Montpellier, 50 minutes from Nimes, and 90 minutes from Avignon and the Mediterranean Sea.
Address: La Bambousaraie, 552 Montsauve, 30140 Générargues, Occitania, France
Coordinates: La Bambousaraie’s coordinates are 44°04’16.5″N 3°58’52.9″E
La Bambouseraie Map
La Bambouseraie Opening Times
La Bambouseraie is open every year from the beginning of March until mid-November when it closes for winter.
La Bambouseraie is open 7 days a week including weekends and holidays. The last admission is one hour before closing time.
La Bambouseraie Ticket Prices
There is free visitor parking for motorhomes, camping cars, motorbikes, and cars at the entrance.
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Arriving at La Bambouseraie by Steam Train
Several times a day, the fabulous steam train of the Cevennes chugs its way across the spectacular valleys of the Gardon, over viaducts and through tunnels, only stopping at La Bambouseraie’s very own station on the way.
Le train au vapour leaves on its winding 13km magical adventure from both Anduze and Saint-Jean-du-Gard four times a day in peak season, taking 40 minutes to complete the journey one way.
Grab a window seat in one of the old open-sided carriages, so you can hang out and get the best pictures. The Cevennes steam train moves slowly and there is plenty of opportunity to capture the Gard River and incredible viaducts you will cross on the journey. There are a few tunnels too, don’t hang out as you approach or you will be blackened by the smuts!
People swimming in the Gard and Salindrinque rivers will wave up at the train and everyone waves back in unison! If there are no swimmers, you can sometimes see the silver fish glinting in the sunlight.
Because we wanted to experience the whole route, we stayed on until Anduze and sat in the carriage until the train was re-loaded and then we got off at the purpose-built station for La Bambouseraie, at which every train stops, on the way back!
We recommend booking tickets in advance for this popular experience. It can get very busy in the height of summer, especially as everyone wants a window seat to enjoy the fantastic views.
Discover La Bambouseraie
La Bambouseraie is a truly magical place. Even if you’re not interested in gardening, the hundreds of bamboo species will make you gasp in awe at their sheer size and mass.
For 150 years this hidden gem has been nestled into a valley in the Gardon, steadily growing upwards, as well as outwards, to its current 35 hectares!
Nowadays it’s a popular tourist attraction, but it’s not yet on the level of Disneyland Paris, the Eiffel Tower, or Puy de Fou. In fact, it’s not even on the top 50 of France’s most major tourist attractions, and it still feels a little like a secret garden, especially outside of the six weeks of high season.
Alongside the magnificent bamboo, there are also leafy giant bananas, huge sequoias from California, over 40 species of Japanese Maple, and lots of rare species from all corners of the globe.
There is also a gorgeous glasshouse full of tropical plants and rare flowers, Eugène’s pond garden where the water lillies floating in the many ponds are breathtaking.
We loved Dragon Valley, fittingly created in 2000, the Chinese Year of the Dragon. Strict Japanese garden and Feng Shui rules were used in the layout and design of the garden which is centered around the River Gardon. Packed with Japanese maple trees and dwarf bamboo, as well as traditional Japanese elements, the valley is a highlight of La Bambouseraie.
For the kids, there is a replica Laotian village to explore, and an aerial walk through the giant bamboos which gives a different perspective on the sheer vastness of everything!
Families will also enjoy the maze that is made from a type of Japanese bamboo, the Semiarundinaria makinoï. The dense foliage and its short lateral leaves are perfectly adapted for hedges and your gang will have endless fun trying to spot each other and find their way out of the bamboo labyrinth.
There are bags of places to enjoy your pique-nique or grab a sandwich at one of the cafés dotted around.
To make the most of your visit, use the audio guide that is available in six languages, or you can book a guided tour to discover the history and secrets of the different gardens.
La Bambouseraie is a place to be remembered, surrounded by green and shady spaces. Gardener or not, you will marvel at and appreciate Mother Nature in all her glory.
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