 The
ship-owner Thomas Dobrée left Grand Blottereau Park to the City.
The 18th century château by the architect Ceineray has French-style
knot gardens using classical designs along its main frontage. The property
is made up of a number of elements:
The park itself is informally landscaped with plantings of exotic species
such as eucalyptus, pomegranate trees, olive trees and mimosas.
For the last 10 years, the Fête des Plantes flower show has been
held on the wide lawns on the second week-end in September. In addition,
several sports facilities are made available to local people and schools:
gymnasium, basketball, handball and tennis courts, football pitches,
alleys for playing boules, etc.
Opposite the château, the Tropical Greenhouses which used to be
managed by the Business School have now been taken over by the Local
Authority. They house France's only collection of exotic commercially
grown plants such as rice, cotton, coffee, cocoa, ebony, mahogany, and
vetiver. In the part devoted to vegetables there are tubs of citrus
trees - lemons, tangerines and grapefruit - as well as short-lived food
plants such as hot peppers, asparagus peas and peanuts are on public
display.
The Local Authority's Gardener and nursery produce the foliage and flowering
plants, trees and shrubs used to decorate public buildings and gardens.
|
|
|
