The Caméllias de la Prairie Park in Alès

In 1930, Jean Ignal, a market gardener from Alés, planted in one of his plots of land his first camellia, which had come from Asia. Against all expectations, the plant flourished, to such an extent that Jean continued unceasingly to sow and reproduce the camellias and multiply the varieties. A garden was born. Some of the trees, now nearly a hundred years old, have reached heights ranging from 5 to 15 metres. 

In 2004, Bernard Pical, a friend of the family and enthusiastic horticulturist, opened the park to the public, sharing this vegetal wonderland with all lovers of gardens. 

In addition to the rare collection of 280 varieties of camellias, you can admire the magnolias, cherry trees, Japanese maples, azaleas, bougainvillea, palms and citrus fruit trees, bonsais and thousand year old olive trees.

A specialized nursery complements the tour of the park. 

The Park is located in Alés at the gates of the Cévennes, in the department of the Gard in Languedoc-Roussillon. It is 15 km from Anduze and its famous bamboo plantation, 20 km from the duchy of Uzés, 40 km from Nîmes, the Rome of France, 70 km from Montpellier, the regional capital and 70 km from Avignon, the city of the popes with its famous bridge.