Jardin botanique de la Font de Bézombes

Seven Worlds in Two Hectares

The garden's most striking feature is its range of styles, each demonstrating what thrives in Mediterranean climate under wet or dry conditions. Walk through a lush tropical zone beside a stark desert garden; cross from a formal Chinese-inspired space into a marsh area thick with water-loving plants. A cloitre de simples (a medicinal herb cloister) and a productive kitchen garden round out the seven themes, proving that beauty and practicality grow side by side here.↗↗

The natural spring does double duty: it sustains the water features and cascades that link the garden's levels, and its moisture creates a microclimate that allows tropical and aquatic species to flourish far from their native habitats. Fountains, a waterfall, and ornamental statues punctuate the walk, adding classical and artistic touches among the greenery.↗↗

Peacocks and Black Swans

What makes the stroll truly unforgettable is the wildlife. Peacocks roam freely along every path, their calls echoing across the valley. A black swan glides on the water, accompanied by white swans and ducks who treat the ponds as their own. These feathered residents are not confined exhibits but integral parts of the garden's atmosphere, weaving between visitors and adding an unpredictable, storybook quality to the walk.↗↗

Meeting the Hosts

The Simon family runs the garden as a private, personal enterprise, and that intimacy is what visitors remember most. Gérard and Monique Simon welcome guests with genuine enthusiasm, guiding them through plantings with decades of accumulated knowledge. Reviews describe a passionate, generous reception and a garden tour rich in anecdotes — the sense that you are being shown a life's work, not a commercial attraction.↗↗

Getting There and Practical Details

The garden is signposted from the old pont de Gignac on the Saint-André-de-Sangonis side. By car, take the A750 motorway exit 58 or 59 (3 km away); the famous medieval village of Saint-Guilhem-le-Désert is just 10 km further. By public transport, the liO bus stop at Saint-André-de-Sangonis on the Route de Montpellier is less than a 10-minute walk from the entrance, served by lines connecting Montpellier to Gignac, Lodève, and Millau.↗↗

Outside of special opening weekends (Rendez-vous aux Jardins in June and Journees Europeennes du Patrimoine in September), the garden is visited by appointment only. Call +33 4 67 57 81 44 or email gerardetmoniquesimon@free.fr to arrange a visit. Admission is 5 euros for a self-guided walk; guided tours are included at the same price during special events. Groups of 10 or more pay 4 euros per person. Children entering with an accompanying adult visit free.↗

Allow roughly 1 hour 15 minutes for a visit. The garden is largely accessible by wheelchair, parking is available (including for coaches), and dogs are welcome — making it a genuinely inclusive stop for families and mixed groups.↗↗↗