Marimurtra botanical garden
Blanes
Blanes is located on the Mediterranean coast, north of Barcelona. It is in the Spanish region of Catalonia on the Costa Brava. It is easily accesible from Bacelona, as there is a train from Barcelona to Blanes every 30 minutes and the trip is only 1h15', so you can take a morning train there and return in the evening.
Marimurtra is one of the oldest and most highly-prized botanical gardens in Europe. It was first developed in the early 20th century by German botany enthusiast Karl Faust and has since become a unique place of singular characteristics.
The Marimurtra Botanical Garden is a leafy balcony overlooking the southernmost cliffs of the Costa Brava. It was created by an inspired merchant who found Blanes the best place to turn his dream into reality, and contracted the best architects, landscapers and botanists of his time to design the space.
Go through the entrance gate, admiring the noucentista building by Josep Goday on your way in, and you will be transported into a microcosm of life, where five continents are brought together in a space of four hectares. Stroll along the paths, veering left at every fork, and enjoy an hour-and-a-half walk through an idyllic stretch of nature.
Up to 4,000 species grow here in a series of reconstructed landscapes, as they would in their place of origin. The garden is divided into three areas: tropical, temperate and Mediterranean, and arranged by vegetal communities or “phytoepisodes” from different parts of the world. The Pergola area, the century-old Araucarias and the Five Mediterraneans are just some of the main points of interest. Although the uniqueness of the garden resides in the great age and the botanical value of the specimens, you will also admire the various architectural elements which grace the site. Goethe Square is the starting point from where you make your way to one of the most impressive lookout points on the coast. A long flight of steps flanked by greenery and flowers will bring you down to the Linnaeus Temple overlooking the sea. Along the cliff path you will find three more lookout points, of which Margalef affords the most spectacular views of the rugged Costa Brava shoreline.
The garden is also a space for learning, where children can find an introduction to botany in the Biological Vegetable Garden and adults can improve their knowledge of ethno botany and genetics in the Mendel Zone.
Marimurtra is a living garden where flowering and leaf colours change every two weeks, making each visit a new discovery.