Saussurea Garden – Courmayeur
Open from mid-June to late September the highest botanical garden in Europe
The highest botanical garden in Europe is the Saussurea Garden, located in Courmayeur, at Pavillon du Mont Fréty, near the first station of the Skyway Mont Blanc cable cars: 2,173 meters above sea level
The Saussurea Garden is open from mid-June to late September and can be reached by cable car (first station – Pavillon) or even on foot, with a walk in the woods and pastures of about 2.5 km. with a difference in height of 800 meters.
The garden was first opened in 1987 as a tourist attraction, but after the creation of the naturalistic oasis of the Pavillon du Mont Fréty, it has gradually taken a more scientific role.
Its name comes from the flower “Saussurea alpina”, which in turn was named in honor of the Geneva scientist Horace Bénédict de Saussure, who in 1786 was one of the promoters of the first ascent of Mont Blanc.
The garden is a 7,000 square meters area and is divided into two sections:
– in the first, the species are cultivated in artificial rocks located according to their geographical origin;
– in the second, the original alpine pasture has been preserved and in some places the typical environments of mountain areas have been reproduced, with many spontaneous plants and flowers.
Flowering usually begins in July, and it is still possible to see flowers, especially those of exotic origin in late September.
The garden is home to about 800 plant species, many of which come from other gardens and universities in Europe and beyond.
USEFUL INFORMATION
Guided tours are available upon reservation
Further information about opening hours, tickets, free entries>>>
See also the Facebook page of the garden for updates>>>
Credits photo: Saussurea garden
WILL YOU GO TO VALLE D’AOSTA?
See on ItalybyEvents a selection of further ideas about what you can do or see in the region>>>
And discover with ItalybyEvents the typical foods>>>
DO YOU LOVE GARDENS?
See on ItalybyEvents a selection of further interesting gardens>>> that you can visit in Italy. Some are also real open-air museums.
