Arboretum

The arboretum has hundreds of species which are both in the park and scattered around the village, around 2,500 trees in all. Some are up to 200 years old. The village is at 600 m of altitude and protected by the mountains which provide a perfect microclimate for most species to thrive. There is a 50 metre sequoia, a magnificent 130 year old magnolia grandiflora and the best example of a tulip tree in France apparently. The descriptions of each tree are on wooden boards with numbers but unfortunately the trees mostly no longer have their numbers so identification is next to impossible! It would be a very good idea to rethink the labelling of the trees. I shopped in the morning and then played a long three set closely fought tennis match which made me rather late for French conversation.