Olbius Riquier park

This traditional 19th century landscaped garden was Olbius Hippolyte Antoine Riquier’s gift to the town in 1868. It comprises of 17 acres of lawns, large trees, winding alleys and even a lake and a greenhouse designed for tropical plants and birds. A convention linking it to Paris’ Jardin d’Acclimatation defines the garden as a place to grow, create and study the adaptation of tropical species to the climate of the region. The garden plans were drawn in 1869 by landscape architects Pierre Barillet-Deschamps and Georges Aumont who also worked on many Parisian gardens. Many exotic species of palm trees, bamboos and succulents are found there, as are a small zoo and a playground for children.