Gardens of the Museum of Toulouse: guide and practical information
True green lungs of the Pink City, the gardens of the Museum are full of flora that is worth the detour. This place of relaxation is nestled in the heart of the Maourine park, near Borderouge. This Toulouse green space extends over an area of 14 hectares acting as a focal point for the 12 kilometers of paths that join it. The Independent Opinion thus returns to the history of the jArdins of the Toulouse Museum.
History of the gardens of the Museum
The gardens of the Museum as well as the green space of Maourine are very recent, unlike the parks of the hyper-center of Toulouse. Indeed, the 2000s saw the birth of these places of relaxation near the north of Toulouse. The development of the garden was thus decided at the same time as the creation of the Borderouge district, where many homes and shops have been integrated and are now served by Toulouse transport. The northern district of Toulouse was created on former market gardeners’ land in Lalande and Croix Daurade.
While safeguarding the natural area, we have created a succession of gardens irrigated by a small canal and a pond, places particularly popular with ducks”, specifies Francis Fantoni, referent of the design office of the Department of green spaces , at the town hall of Toulouse.
Anthology of floral varieties in the gardens of the Museum
It is not for nothing that the site is taxed as a bouquet of diversity: it contains various species from various backgrounds. Among the most remarkable: a 150-year-old palm tree, imported from Chile and protected as it is an endangered variety. Visitors can also find a maze of boxwood, a garden of Mediterranean plants and logically the gardens of the Museum of Toulouse.
The gardens of the Museum in Borderouge serve as an annex to the Museum of Toulouse, a few kilometers from its location, on the Allées Jules-Guesde. For several years, the Maourine has indeed hosted the gardens of one of the most essential museums in Toulouse, where young and old can immerse themselves in nature. They were created around the Maourine pond and are aimed at both insiders and the simply curious.
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What to do in the gardens of the Museum?
Stroll through the heart of the gardens of the Museum of Toulouse
Transition point between the urban area of the Borderouge district and the vegetation, the Shade of the Museum allows walkers to cut themselves off from the city to continue their stroll. An eight-meter-high wooden trellis helps soften the air, complemented by the chirping of birds and the trickling of water. Aquatic plants and rocks are also visible.
Authentic concentrate of plants, the vegetable gardens allow you to discover about 700 varieties of food vegetation, fruits and vegetables. Passers-by can notably admire curiosities such as witch’s claws, elephant’s head amaranth, snake gourd or even sponge gourd.
In order to complete the visit to the annex of the museum, Toulouse residents can continue with the discovery of the thematic gardens: the garden of Bacchus, containing plants used in the production of alcohol, the garden of aromatic plants, the square of the tropics and finally the garden of sweets where the fruits and plants used in the composition of jams, syrups and other delicacies are displayed.
Baptized the forgotten path, a corner of the Maourine is aptly named. And for good reason, this preserved natural space spreads over three hectares where the reeds that have completely taken over the pond flourish. An environment where animals, and especially birds, have settled there to enjoy the flora while staying away from predators. Note that the gardens of the Museum in Borderouge are open from Tuesday to Sunday, from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. from May 2 to October 31. On these schedules, walkers can walk them independently but marauders are there to answer questions.
Discover the hives of bees in the museum gardens
They are essential insects for the proper functioning of the ecosystem. However, bees are as essential as they are fragile. Indeed, these little beasts are very vulnerable to climate change. Within the museum gardens, a space is reserved for them. Indeed, it is possible to learn about the functioning of bees thanks to the educational hive installed at the request of the municipal council of children of Toulouse.
Inside is a swarm of bees that visitors can observe in the shelter behind thick glass. Every last Sunday of the month, a beekeeper welcomes the curious to explain to them how a hive works and the life of bees.
Didactic trail in the gardens of the Museum
If it is possible to stroll within the gardens of the Museum according to its desires, guided visits are also regularly organized. With a departure from the Ombrière, the route then passes through the vegetable gardens with explanations of food plants and their evolution over time and the seasons. A walk that then ends with the observation of the Roselière. This mini-tour lasts approximately 30 minutes and is held on Tuesday, Thursday and Friday at 12 noon. A longer excursion, lasting one hour, is also organized on Wednesday and Saturday at 3 p.m. and on Sunday at 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. The activity is accessible to children from 3 years old.
To discover what is hidden under the reeds of the forgotten path, a visit of one hour or 30 minutes is entirely dedicated to it. Walkers are called upon to open their senses to the cracking of branches and the sound of birds. One-hour visit on Wednesday and Saturday at 4.30 p.m. and on Sunday at 10.30 a.m., 2.30 p.m. and 4.30 p.m. The 30-minute excursions are scheduled on Tuesday, Thursday and Friday at 4 p.m. Accessible to children accompanied by an adult from 7 years old.
“The vegetable gardens of the world”, a treasure of the gardens of the Museum
In total, no less than 700 varieties of food plants, fruits or vegetables, are grown and exhibited in this space dedicated to growing areas. Among them, walkers can observe rare species and amazing varieties. For example, its witch claws, an elephant’s head amaranth, a snake gourd or even a sponge gourd!
Thematic gardens complete them: that of Bacchus presents plants used in the manufacture of alcohol, the garden of aromatics and scents awakens the senses the square of the tropics is organized around the waterfall, the garden of sweets includes fruits and the plants are made from jams, syrups, fruit jellies…
Discover plants from different environments in the gardens of the Museum
When the park was created, it was decided to install four ambient gardens where Toulouse residents can find botanical species specific to each environment: moor, marsh (iris, water lilies), Pyrenean Gave (pebbles, plants in wet places), scrubland (Mediterranean plants, limestone rocks).
What can be found in the gardens of the Muséum de Toulouse?
The museum gardens, as well as the Maourines park in Toulouse contain many infrastructures and gardens to discover. Here is the list:
- The educational labyrinth of biodiversity, created in April 2018
- Four atmospheric gardens
- The vegetable gardens of the world in the natural history museum
- The herb garden
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Practical information about the gardens of the Museum of Toulouse
Prices for visiting the park
Prices: 3 euros for adults, 2 euros reduced price (children aged 6 to 17, students, people with disabilities, people over 65, job seekers, teachers).
Free for every first Sunday of each month, for children under 6, holders of the Toulouse Tourism Pass, the ICOM card, press card and those accompanying people with disabilities.
How to get to the gardens of the Museum in Toulouse?
Address: 24-26 Avenue Maurice Bourges Maunoury, Borderouge, 31200 Toulouse
Maourine Park is accessible by transport via metro line B, Borderouge station.
Where to park near the gardens of the Museum?
- Maourine Square car park, 2 rue Louise Weiss
- Park and ride Tisséo Borderouge, Avenue Maurice Bourgès-Maunoury
The opening hours of the gardens of the Museum of Toulouse
Open from May 3 to October 31, Tuesday to Sunday from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. The park is closed on Mondays.
Between November 1 and May 1, Maourine Park is closed to visits. However, the gardens remain open for gourmet workshops, gardening workshops, nature discovery workshops and group reservations.
Things to do around the gardens of the Museum
Several cultural or leisure venues are located a stone’s throw from the gardens of the Museum:
- the Violet Theater,
- the BBB art center,
- the Métronum auditorium,
- the Utopia Borderouge cinema,
- the Maourines shopping center.
- the Toulouse-Lautrec swimming pool.
Restaurants around the gardens of the Museum of Toulouse
- La Noria, 11 Rue Edouard Pailleron, 31200 Toulouse, in the heart of the gardens of the Museum.
- Makao, 2 rue Ernest-Renan, 550 m from the gardens of the Museum.
- La Cucina di Nino, 2 rue des Trois Pigeons, 800 m from the gardens of the Museum.
- Mona Pizza, 9 rue Louise-Weiss, 800 m from the gardens of the Museum.
- Nelsao, 61 avenue Maurice-Bourgès-Maunoury, 900 m from the gardens of the Museum.
Hotels near the Museum gardens
2 star hotels
Aparthotel Adagio access Jolimont, 11 Avenue Léon Blum 31500 Toulouse, 05 34 30 28 00
Hotel des Etats-Unis, 230 avenue des Etats-Unis 31200 Toulouse, 05 61 47 50 14.
Ibis budget Center Gare, 27 Boulevard des Minimes 31200 Toulouse, 0 5 61 13 30 54
3 star hotels
One Bedroom Hotel in Town, 67 bis Rue des Chalets 31000 Toulouse, 0 806 11 02 83
Campanile Toulouse Nord L’union, ZAC de Cantemerle, 31240 L’Union, 05 62 89 24 30
Sporting House Hotel – Toulouse, 272 route de Launaguet 31200 Toulouse, 05 34 40 50 58
4 star hotels
Best Western Hotel Innes, 13 bis Rue Matabiau 31000 Toulouse, 05 61 63 10 63
Néméa Appart’Hôtel Residence Concorde, 16 Boulevard Bonrepos 31000 Toulouse, 05 62 16 14 42
Privilege Appart Hotel Saint-Exupéry, 10 Rue Lafon 31000 Toulouse, 05 34 41 72 72
5 star hotels
La Cour des Consuls Hotel and Spa, 46 rue des Couteliers 31000 Toulouse, 05 67 16 19 99
Pullman Toulouse Center Ramblas, 84, alleys Jean Jaurès 31000 Toulouse, 05 61 10 23 10
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