Les Jardins de Planbuisson, Dordogne

Visit Les Jardins de Planbuisson

Les Jardins de Planbuisson is an impressive bamboo garden in the Dordogne department near to Cadouin and halfway between Sarlat and Bergerac.

Exploring the Jardins de Planbuisson

The Jardins de Planbuisson is a large bamboo and grasses garden covering more than 1.5 hectares. The collections include more than 180 species of bamboo and 210 species of grasses from around the world.

As you walk through the garden the sheer height of some of these bamboo species will amaze you. Some also have an incredible diameter. With a range of colours from yellow through green to black and various stripes and patterns the world of bamboos is large and varied.

The large variety of grasses is also something not often seen and adds to the interest in the garden.

A walk through the garden takes about an hour and is accessible to wheelchairs. Your walk will take you through vegetation emanating from Chile to Tibet and the evergreen nature of the bamboos and the attractiveness of many grasses in winter makes it suitable for visits throughout the year including winter.

The garden was started in 1989 by Michel Bonfils as a private collection but rapidly grew and became the fabulous collection you can vistit today. It is now managed by a garden association to ensure its future and upkeep.

If you are inspired to start your own bamboo collection or just want a few prize specimens in your garden there is a pepiniere (plant sale) on site and staff can help you to choose non-invasive species suitable for a smaller garden.

The Jardins de Planbuisson were given the label of Jardin Remarquable (remarkable garden) in 2005 and it won the Dordognes garden prize in 2003.

Visiting the Jardins de Planbuisson

Opening hours:

March, April and November: 10.00 to 12.00 and 14.00 to 18.00. Closed Mondays and Tuesdays.

May, June, September and October: 10.00 to 12.00 and 14.00 to 18.00. Closed Mondays

July to August: 10.00 to 19.00 Open every day.

December, January and February open by appointment.

Entrance: 6 euros adult, 2 euros 12-18 years and under 12s free.

Places to visit nearby

The garden of the Parc Panoramique of Limeuil is nearby in the beautiful village of Limeuil. It has lovely views over the confluence of the rivers Dordogne and Vezere.

The Jardin's de Planbuisson have a very tropical feel with all the bamboo. If this has whet your appetite for a tropical garden visit the beautiful village of La Roque Gageac where bamboos grow all over the village along with palms, bamboos and mimosas.