France has a horticultural history that goes back centuries, from the forested hunting grounds to the formal gardens of kings.  But “Liberté, égalité, fraternité” leads to parks for the people, offering countless opportunities for visitors to fulfill their desires to commune with nature.

La Bambouseraie is an important part of that history.  Having made his fortune in the spice trade, (which links him clearly to my current home) Eugène Mazel purchased land in the Languedoc-Roussillon region of France over 150 years ago.   A passionate amateur botanist, he created a park that now is planted with over 300 species and cultivars of bamboo and numerous species of remarkable trees from Asia and other parts of the word, including the Gingko biloba and the giant sequoia.

Recognized by France as a Historic Monument, the park both educates and offers its visitors a place to breathe deep. This video gives you a chance to do the same.