Terra Botanica
TERRA BOTANICA, the first park to offer interactive encounters with the plant world, has opened since the 10th of april 2010 in the heart of the Anjou region. A total of 110,000 sq. m of gardens, aquatic areas and greenhouses, dotted with 40 attractions and presentations, will offer a multidimensional experience of plant life from all six continents. A unique experience in the world.
For the first time ever, this innovative concept will give people the opportunity to discover the plant world from every angle (history, geography, economics, symbolism, science and aesthetics) and in a variety of ways, all at a single location.
A voyage through time, space and the senses, Terra Botanica will constantly interweave the "spectacle" of nature and an understanding of the living world. With a year-round programme of flowering plants, each season will show the park under a different aspect.
Through four key focus areas, TERRA BOTANICA invites you on a journey of discovery in an amazingly varied world of plants and water.
Anjou - naturally
The history and the “terroir” of the Anjou region have made it the location of choice for an astonishing variety of plant farms and internationally-recognised botanical expertise.
The plant industry in Anjou today
- Europe's leading producer of hydrangeas
- France's leading producer of medicinal plants, apples, blackcurrants, lamb's lettuce, cucumber, young leeks, radish, etc.
- France's leading producer of potted plants, bedding plants, nursery seedlings, bulbs, potted shrubs, ornamental horticulture, vegetable and flower seeds, and dahlias
- France's second-largest producer of outdoor roses
- France's third-ranking wine-growing area, home to 29 AOC wines.
The Anjou-Loire specialised plant-growing hub
This concentration of agricultural, horticultural and wine-growing businesses and industries – the only one of its kind in Europe – is an officially-recognised competitiveness cluster with a global reach. Its aim is to make Anjou a global standard-setter for design and innovation in the food, healthcare and personal well-being sectors.
The key dates of a plant adventure
- 1999: 16 December, the proposed site in the towns of Angers and Avrillé is selected.
- 2000: 24 July, a design team is chosen to develop the theme park based on the plant world.
- 2001: 5 April, the first outline document is submitted by the design team.
- 2003: Spring, consultation among the population of Angers to obtain their opinion (more than 17,000 households returned the questionnaire).
- 2004: 13 December, under the authority of Christophe Béchu, President of Maine-et-Loire Departmental Council, the decision is taken to proceed with the project for the plant theme park.
- 2006: 23 February, the park’s name, Terra Botanica is revealed at the Salon du Végétal.
- 2006: June, submission of the park’s building permit.
- 2007: March, presentation of the final preliminary project at the Salon du Végétal in Angers. The SAEML Terra Botanica is chosen to manage the park.
- 2008: February, start of building work.
- 2009: 17 February, the landscape designer, Thierry Huau, presents the park at the Salon du Végétal. Jean Pierre Chavassieux is appointed Chairman of the SAEML Terra Botanica.
- 2009: March, the restaurateur is the Michelin star Chef Pascal Favre d'Anne.
- 2010: inauguration on 3rd of April and opening of the park to the public on 10th of April.
