La Bambouseraie – a bamboo jungle in the heart of France
by The Bogtrotter on Jun.06, 2009, under France, French Experiences
Bamboo always makes you think of the far east – of China and Panda Bears. But tucked away in the foothills of the Cevennes in Southern France is a 15 hectare bamboo forest that provides an oriental oasis from the Mediterranean heat.

Bamboo Forest
There is even a small Laosian village set up to demonstrate how people use bamboo to create houses and other buildings, with small traditional garden plots dotted between.

Looking Up
The Dragon Valley is a relatively new addition to the park – a Feng Shui inspired garden created by Eric Borja in 2000 (the year of the Dragon). With its colourful Acer trees, rolling landscape and Red Phoenix pagoda you really do feel you have been transported to the other side of the world.

Dragon Valley
The Bambouseraie is easily accessible by car, but you can combine it with a trip on a steam train by taking the Train a Vapeur des Cevennes from Anduze or St Jean Du Gard and stopping at the Bambouseraie’s own station. Get more details on the park by visiting the Bambousaraie web site.
And if you get inspired by what you have seen you can buy your own plants at the nursery, and start creating your own oasis back at home.
July 10th, 2009 on 7:36 am
Between Anduze and St Jean du Gard, the Steam Train of Cevennes stops at the Bambouseraie. This is a really nice trip.