(Re)Discover the Jardin des Plantes in a fun way

As you probably already know, the Jardin des Plantes is a unique place to relax in Montpellier. But did you know that it is also a place of discovery and exchange? The botanical gardeners take this role to heart and organize numerous events throughout the year to help you discover the garden from this perspective. This is particularly true at the moment with "Les visites de l'été"(Summer Tours). Finally, the Jardin des Plantes has an educational role throughout the year, a rapidly growing mission that reconnects with its origins (the teaching of botany) around the objectives and with the help of today's tools. To reinforce this educational aspect, one of them, Denis Nespoulous, has created connected trails to allow you to discover the garden as you've never seen it before!

The origin of the connected trails in the Jardin des Plantes

The trail called "SMART BOTA" was created in 2018 for the introductory MOOC on botany offered by the Tela Botanica association.

This association, founded in 1999 and bringing together a large network of French-speaking botanists, aims to:

promote the exchange of information between botanists,
facilitate projects using digital tools,
produce royalty-free data on flora,
raise awareness and provide training in botany.

What are connected trails?

The connected trails are information sheets accessible to all and spread across several routes. They can be accessed via a QR code using a smartphone or tablet. These allow you to discover the riches of the garden at your own pace. The four different routes are displayed at the entrance to the Jardin des Plantes: simply follow the guide, or choose to lose yourself in the paths.

These botanical fact sheets provide a range of information about the plant you are scanning, such as a description, its uses, and its habitat. It's a fun and entertaining way to learn more about the flora around us!

Previous Next

1 2 3

The five connected paths of the garden

For now, there are five connected trails within the Jardin des Plantes. These are likely to evolve over time thanks to your collaboration.

The SMART’BOTA trail

The second connected trail in Montpellier's Jardin des Plantes, and the first educational trail, it was created in 2018 for Tela Botanica's introductory MOOC on botany , for which Denis is the lead instructor. The goal of this trail is to introduce enthusiasts to botany. It features around sixty species and introduces you to the main plant families.

The SMART’PHARMA trail

An extension of the first "SMART'BOTA" trail, this trail was created for students at the Faculty of Pharmacy in Montpellier. Indeed, a multitude of plants can be used for therapeutic and medicinal purposes. This trail allows students students to combine the theoretical aspects of their courses with practical aspects by directly observing the plants in the Garden. This educational trail is also accessible to all. It also features around sixty plant species.

The REMARKABLE TREES trail

This trail, created in 2014, is the oldest trail in the Jardin des Plantes. It allows you to discover all the secrets of the Jardin des Plantes' tall trees. It is also the only trail that can be explored without your smartphone, as it has reading stations, but feel free to scan the QR codes on the panels to connect to all the secrets of botany! This connected trail features 25 tree species chosen from among the most remarkable and oldest in the garden.

The WILD GRASSES trail

This trail, created for Tela Botanica's MOOC Herbes Folles (Wild Herbs) (second edition planned for this fall!), aims to help you rediscover these plants that are pejoratively referred to as "weeds." They too have their virtues, and beyond their disadvantages, which cannot be denied, they also play an important role in our environment. The wild herbs in the garden invite you to reflect on the issues of biodiversity. This trail will allow you to see these "weeds" in a different light...

The OBSERVATOIRE DES SAISONS trail

The last trail is somewhat unique in that it is itself connected to a citizen science program. Become a participant in this CNRS program by observing the 12 species that make up the trail. Its goal is also to raise awareness about global warming by introducing us to phenology (the observation of periodic events, in this case involving plants). At the entrance to the Jardin des Plantes, you can ask for a specially designed sheet on which to note your observations. This data will help scientists to better understand and monitor climate change and its issues.

Previous Next

1 2

And for those who are curious, discover the app

If you would like to discover more about Montpellier's Jardin des Plantes through digital tools, you can download the SMART' FLORE app on all your Android devices. It offers: