Marimurtra Botanical Garden – A Garden with a View {Jardí Botànic Marimurtra Blanes, Spain}

The Marimurtra Botanical Garden , or Jardí Botànic Marimurtra, is situated on top of a rocky cliff in Blanes, Spain.  The garden is the perfect place to spend a few hours on a leisurely stroll, learning about the foliage and soaking up the breathtaking views of the surrounding Mediterranean Sea.

The gardens were founded by a German botanist, Carl Faust, in the 1920’s.   A statue in his honor occupies a prominent spot on the beach in the heart of Blanes.  My kids thought it was cool that they had  learned about him while visiting the beach and village, just an hour before our tour of the gardens.

The Marimurtra Botanical Garden houses the largest collection of living plants in Catalunya.  It’s home to more than 3,000 species on 4 hectares of land, dedicated primarily to Mediterranean and sub-tropical flora.  Stroll through the different zones – subtropical, temperate, and Mediterranean.  The abundance of cacti and Mediterranean vegetation is astonishing and includes many rare and unique species.

You’ll also find a research center on site, the International Biology Station Mediterranean. Today it is a center for conservation, research and outreach on endemic and endangered species in the Mediterranean environment.

In addition to the laboratory, there are greenhouses, nurseries and 10 hectares of Mediterranean forest on Mount San Juan just outside of the visitation area.  A future pathway is planned for the forest and, when complete, will give visitors another look at Mediterranean foliage and teach them about the sustainability and importance of mature cork trees.

As you explore the gardens, you will eventually find yourself overlooking the Mediterranean Sea and the shear cliff sides of the coast.  These are some of the best views in the region!   Have your camera ready and capture family pictures with the Costa Brava sea and shoreline as your backdrop.

We learned a lot during our guided tour and even got “hands on” with some of the flora.  The Monkey Tail Cactus pictured above is one of the few cacti that you would actually want to touch.  The kids got a botany lesson, asked questions and explored the garden all while thinking it was just someplace fun to visit.

Did you Know?
Lemongrass is a natural mosquito repellant.  I need to plant some of it all around my house – when I get a house…

Interestingly, the Carl Faust Foundation and admission fees from visitors fund the garden. It isn’t funded by the local government. Helping to keep such a historical garden going is just another reason why a visit is so important.

I also recommend purchasing a jar of honey from the gift shop.  The taste is exceptional and it’s made on site from the bees that help pollinate the garden.  We were a bit hesitant about flying home with a jar of honey.  Luckily, it wasn’t an issue to carry-on our tasty reminder of Marimurtra even though it was over 3 oz.

 

I have NEVER experienced a Botanical Garden with such a spectacular view! The kids learned about flora from different regions and I got a chance to work on my photography. I highly recommend visiting the Marimurtra Botanical Garden when in Costa Brava.

Address:
Passeig carles Faust 9, Apdo 112,
17300 Blanes, Spain

Phone:
+34 972 33 08 26

Website:
http://www.marimurtra.cat

Admission:
Adult – 6.50€
Kids under 4 are free with accompanying adult

How to get there:
Take the Bus Botanic during peak season, walk or drive

Have you been to Jardí Botànic Marimurtra in Blanes?  I would love to hear your thoughts.

Disclosure: My family was invited as guests to explore the gardens.  All opinions are 100% my own and may differ from others.