The fortress walls of the Jardins Suspendu of Le Havre

Le Havre – Jardins Suspendu (Hanging Gardens)

The Jardins Suspendu, in English the Hanging Gardens is a vast garden on the heights of Le Havre overlooking the city.

The whole garden area is built on an old fort. The building of the Fort de St. Adresse started in 1854. Although not directly involved during the First World War (it eventually became a camp for the British troops), during the Second World War it was first occupied by the Germans, and then the Americans.

In 1972, the military abandoned the fort and it was left alone until 2005 when the city changed the fort into a public garden.

Jardin Suspendu's Fort Entrance at Le Havre
Jardin Suspendu’s Fort Entrance at Le Havre

The interesting thing about the Jardins Suspendu is that you can walk on the enormously thick fortress walls which have all become part of the garden. There are bushes, grass, even trees growing on top of the walls.

The fortress walls of the Jardins Suspendu of Le Havre
The fortress walls of the Jardins Suspendu of Le Havre

Inside the fort is a big open area that has on both sides greenhouses. One part of it is used to supply the plants for the municipality and their gardens. But a big portion is open to the pubic, and features all sorts of areas of the world.

One side of the greenhouses of the Jardin Suspendu of Le Havre
One side of the greenhouses of the Jardin Suspendu of Le Havre

Inside, each greenhouse is dedicated to one specific topic, like the Amazon rainforest, with all sorts of plants that can be found in that specific area (they also have desert, European forests, etc). In the rainforest display, you can even find many carnivore plants.

Carnivore plants in the Jardins Suspendu of Le Havre
Carnivore plants in the Jardins Suspendu of Le Havre

The temperature and humidity of each section is adapted to the original habitat of the plants.

Amazon rainforest of Jardins Suspendu of Le Havre
Amazon rainforest of Jardins Suspendu of Le Havre

There is also a nice tea/coffee room with a lot of bio products.

Coffee/Tea room of Jardins Suspendu in Le Havre
Coffee/Tea room of Jardins Suspendu in Le Havre

The Jardins Suspendu is also the venue for concerts and festivals.

Concerts at the Jardins Suspendu of Le Havre
Concerts at the Jardins Suspendu of Le Havre

For the opening times & dates and for more information, click here (in French)

TIP: If you go to the Jardins Suspendu, make sure you go to the Southern part with a beautiful view of Le Havre.

Related Posts

  • 62
    Etretat - TipsTransport Getting There The only real way is by car/motorcycle and it will involve a bit of small road travel. There is a train service from Paris to Le Havre and from there you need to take a bus. TIP: If you are coming between April and September by car,…
Scroll to Top