This urban green space offers a unique opportunity to explore a diverse collection of private and historic gardens hidden behind the facades of the city center. Many of these tranquil oases feature stunning garden architecture, historical elements, and a rich variety of plant life.
Visitors can encounter gardens ranging from formal French styles to ecological designs, some with grand old trees like Japanese knotweed, Oriental plane trees, ginkgo bilobas, and ancient beeches. Ornamental flora abounds, including hydrangeas, ferns, rhododendrons, lavender, wisteria, jasmine, and various bee- and butterfly-friendly plants like agastache, eupatorium, and globe thistles. Vertical gardens and meticulously restored historical landscapes are also part of the experience.
Among the plants cultivated in these gardens are numerous edible varieties. These include fruit-bearing trees such as pear, plum, fig, mulberry, quince, medlar, peach, and apple, alongside grapevines and olive trees. Several gardens incorporate dedicated herb sections, and some spaces, including communal allotment gardens, focus on growing various vegetables. One garden is even explicitly referred to as a “picking garden.” While these plants contribute to the gardens’ beauty and yield produce, often harvested for private consumption or for creating local products like jams, the primary activity for visitors is appreciating the diverse landscapes and their historical contexts.