Camifolia

Camifolia (3.5 hectares), also known as various combinations of the Jardin botanique des Plantes Médicinales et Aromatiques and the Jardin botanique de Chemillé, is a botanical garden and tourist site. The park is located at 11 rue de l'Arzillé, Chemillé, Maine-et-Loire, Pays de la Loire, France. It is open daily except Monday in the warmer months; an admission fee is charged.

The garden was established in 1976 by few locals growers to reflect the region's traditional cultivation of medicinal plants, particularly chamomile. Originally Camifolia was just a public garden and was not made to charge for visits or to welcome tourists. In 1996 the non-profit society "Les Amis du Jardin" transformed this garden in a touristic and educational space with the Chemillé Tourist Office's help. The garden was inaugurated in 2008 .Today the garden contains more than 600 types of medicinal and useful plants, with a national collection of chamomile, and has been recognized as a member of the Jardins botaniques de France et des pays francophones. In 2010, it receives the label "Qualité tourisme" and "Jardin remarquable" in 2018. In 2013, the park has 17,000 visitors per seasons and 28,000 in 2018. The garden also contains greenhouses (200 m²), an exhibition hall, a video room, and a store. Camifolia is adapted to welcome schoolchildren and it offers many visits and events like medicinal plant days, open-air cinema and wellness evenings. The garden have an ecological management. Camifolia is chemical-free and want to keep a biological diversity. There is 48 birds species in the garden. Camifolia try to help the fauna by installing various insect shellters.

The Differents gardens

In Camifolia, there is 6 differents gardens with specific themes:

-The garden of flavour and scents : In this garden all the species have strong smells or special textures and colours

-The garden of local produce : A chamomile field, the typical product of Camifolia

-The medicinal and toxic plant garden : In this garden there is only toxic plants, who can be useful in medicine if they are used correctly

-The garden of flavours : All the plants in this garden can be used to cook. It can be vegetables or herbs to season your meals

-The fibre and dye garden : The plants in this garden can be used to make naturals dyings or ropes and cloths .

The botanical garden : The biggest garden, with over 300 plants laid in a specific order (APG III)

Prices and opening hours

Opening hours of the garden
Opening hours M T W T F S S
May-June Closed From 2 p.m to 7 p.m
June-August 2 to 7 p.m From 10 a.m to 7 p.m
September Closed From 2 p.m to 6 p.m
October Closed 2 to 6 p.m Closed 2 to 6 p.m
Prices
Prices Full fees Reduced fees* Free
Visit on your own 6€ 5€ -12 y.o
Conducted tour (in French) 7€ 6€ -6 y.o

*Children (12-18 years old), students, job seekers, visitors with disabilities, Cézam card, groups (over 15 visitors)

See also

References

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