The Bamboo garden at Prafrance (Bambouseraie de Prafrance) is in the Gard department of Languedoc-Roussillon just north of Anduze and south of Alès. Unique in Europe, and developed over 150 years (the last 100 in the hands of the same family) the bamboo garden at Prafrance has bamboos of every shape and size beautifully laid out over 15 hectares (35 acres).
Visiting the Prafrance Bambouseraie
While the chance to see bamboos in all their shapes and forms is a key part of a visit, there is much else to enjoy in these extensive gardens, with many other plantations and features and several imposing specimen trees.
When you first enter the gardens at Prafrance you pass through a long walkway where grand sequoia trees provide a magnificent backdrop to the bamboo plants.
There are also other fine specimen trees if you have seen too much bamboo!
The next feature at the Anduze bamboo garden is the recreation of a typical Laos village, designed to show in practice how bamboo is used as a building material. Continuing to explore you reach the remarkable 'forests of giant bamboo', also passing the cypress plantation and a Japanese themed area along the Dragon Valley.
The central path that runs south to north through the center of the gardens is lined by magnolias, and then the prehistoric experience of walking along the path with large palm trees on either side.
To complete your visit there are several themed areas, including the 19th century greenhouses, a water garden, another Japanese inspired garden, this time based around bonsai trees, and a bamboo garden which brings together many different species.
Even non-gardeners (like myself) will enjoy a visit to the bamboo garden at Prafrance - see the Bambouseraie for details of opening times and admission prices.
Attractions nearby
Enthusiasts of French gardens might like to also visit the Jardin des Sambucs, in the Cevennes near Le Vigan to the south-west of Anduze. The garden is a much more 'natural' environment than the bamboo garden, and is designed around extensive terracing. water features, artistic additions, and the stone that is an integral part of the environment here to create a garden that might best be described as 'enhanced nature'.
As well as gardens you can enjoy the natural environment of the Cevennes National Park, beautiful villages such as Sauve and Vezenobres and historic towns such as Nimes...all within easy reach of Prafrance.
You can find more travel ideas in the Gard guide and the Languedoc-Roussillon guide.
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Anduze
The historic heart of Anduze, with its small squares and medieval houses, is very pleasant to explore
Anduze guide
Vezenobres
The village of Vézénobres, north-west of Nimes, is a delightful small village quite overlooked by most visitors
Vezenobres guide
Sauve
There are numerous places of interest to discover as you explore the narrow ancient streets in the heart of Sauve
Sauve guide
Saint-Ambroix
Saint-Ambroix is an interesting town, in part because of the ruined castles and the rocky 'plateau du dugas' in the village centre
Saint-Ambroix guide
Le Vigan
Le Vigan is one of the most interesting towns to visit within the Cevennes National Park
Le Vigan guide
Lussan
Lussan is a pretty village of character in Languedoc-Roussillon with two ancient castles
Lussan guide... or see ALL recommended places to visit in Gard
The French version of this page is at Prafrance bamboo garden (Francais)