Jardí Botànic Marimurtra
Costa Brava is such a diverse region. From Blanes in the south to the French border in the north, this Catalonian region encompasses mountains and cliffs, plains and rough terrain, cities that manage to be simultaneously cosmopolitan and quaint. Here are adorable villages, miles and miles of coastline with alluring little coves and bays and, perhaps most famously, stunning beaches that have attracted visitors since the 1950s.
New to me were the gardens. On a recent trip in Costa Brava, I had the opportunity to visit both the pretty Jardins Santa Clotilde in Lloret de Mar, as well as Marimurtra Botanical Gardens in Blanes.
A Costa Brava Garden
Marimurtra is one of Europe’s oldest botanical gardens, planned and developed by enthusiastic German botanist Karl Faust. More than 4 000 species from five continents grow in this four-hectare Costa Brava garden.
But the most striking feature is perhaps the spectacular views here at the southern tip of the Costa Brava.
Enjoying it all with a lovely glass of local Cava – perfect!
Do you enjoy visiting botanical gardens on your travels?
Disclosure: I was in Blanes as a guest of the Costa Brava tourist board, Costa Brava Pirineu de Girona. All opinions are as ever my own.
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I do enjoy botanical gardens when we travel. They are beautiful, relaxing and free. This one also has beautiful views and an Australian Cockatoo. I love it.
budget jan recently posted..Marrakech to the Dunes of Erg Chebbi – The Sahara – Part 5
…five continents represented
I LOVE botanical gardens, but for me it’s a new love. I actually went to my first botanical garden about 4 years ago only down in Fort Worth Texas of all places. But I so enjoyed it that now I try to see if I can find botanical gardens to visit on my travels. Beautiful pictures!
Sere recently posted..Wanderlust Wednesday – Cabrillo National Monument
Quite new for me too. So peaceful and beautiful, botanic gardens.
I do love a stop at a botanical garden. These are beautiful photos and certainly give a taste of the variety to be found in the area – very nice!
Jackie Smith recently posted..The Birthday Bangle: Weaving Heritage and History
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Really great photos of the gardens. It looks amazing.
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Thank you for the interesting article, Sophie! As always, I enjoyed viewing the pictures…
Muza-chan recently posted..The 62nd rebuilding of the most venerable shrine, Ise Jingu
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What a nice surprise to see theses fabulous views from the garden…and with a cava in hand!!
The Aussie Cockatoo is an interesting touch!
jenny@atasteoftravel recently posted..The Giving Lens Gives Back in Jordan
I wasn’t prepared for the views either. Really gorgeous place this.
I find botanical gardens so relaxing. That top shot of the little boat in the cove is lovely. Those houses at the top of the cliff have quite a view!
Michele @ Malaysian Meanders recently posted..Strolling from Bondi to Bronte
Would be nice to have a summer house there, wouldn’t it…
If only for the burst of vivid colours of exotic plants, yes, I like visiting botanical gardens. These are gorgeous.
Marlys recently posted..Themed Paris Urban Walk – The Belleville of Edith Piaf
A gorgeous garden indeed.
I can tell you I would love to enjoy those views with a nice glass of Cava! Those views are what draw me to the Costa Brava.
Debbie Beardsley @ European Travelista recently posted..The Gorton Fisherman in Rostock!
See you there soon?
Beautiful. I have not been to this part of Spain, but when I get there, I will visit this garden. Botanical gardens always top my list when I travel.
Jenna recently posted..The Beginning of the Renaissance
I think you would really enjoy the Costa Brava, Jenna.
What a pretty garden! I love that view of the cove with the sailboat too!
Michael Figueiredo recently posted..Greetings From… The Andean Plateau, Peru
I would love to be on the sailboat
I never miss visiting a garden when I’m traveling, and if it has a view, all the better! Lovely photos, Sophie.
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I do enjoy visiting botanical gardens when I’m traveling.
I loved the pictures with the cliffs and the water. It looks so beautiful and relaxing.
Tonya @ The Traveling Praters recently posted..Why I Visited the Audubon Zoo in New Orleans and didn’t take pictures of the Animals
Me too
I thought I was home in Arizona with those barrel cactus in the first shot, and the pictures just keep getting prettier. Those are truly postcard shots of the bay. How gorgeous can it get?
Vera Marie Badertscher recently posted..Magical Memories of Key West
They really have a great variety of species from around the world.
Forgot to answer your question… yes we love to visit botanical gardens. Off the top of my head, I recall one in New Zealand, the fantastic Longwood Gardens in Pennsylvania, Richmond Virginia’s Lewis Gintner Gardens, the Wildflower Preserve in Pennsylvania, San Diego’s Balboa Park Botanical Garden, not to mention our own Tucson Botanical Garden and Tohono Chul Park and Arizona Sonoran Desert Museum (which is really more a botanical zoo than a museum). Does Monet’s Garden in Giverney count?
Vera Marie Badertscher recently posted..Magical Memories of Key West
Monet always counts
Wow it looks lovely – especially the view to a cold glass of cava.
ItalianNotes recently posted..Unique hotels Tuscany
Awesome spot…what a view!
D.J. – The World of Deej recently posted..Avenue of the Oaks – Picture of the Week
Absolutely awesome
Some lovely garden shots. Botanical gardens are always a treat and my wife and I search them out wherever we travel. The largest one we’ve ever encountered was in the town of Massandra in Crimea, Ukraine, a place you could spend days getting lost in.
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Wow, I’ve never even heard of Massandra. Love that
I love all gardens and once summer hits if I’m at home I feel a strong need to work in one even for 15 minutes every day. And what a spectacular view from this place.
Leigh recently posted..Fabulous Fernie: One of the Best Ski Resorts in Canada
I’m a lazier sort, I’m afraid. Love gardens, but not a big fan of gardening
I like the photo of the wine and the harbor the best. Traveling for me is all about kicking back and enjoying the view.
Sensibletraveler recently posted..Photo of the Week: Lake Superior Winter
Kicking back and enjoying the view… I like that
I love Catalonia but have not been to this part. The botanical garden and he view of the ocean and the cliffs are magnificent.
Yes, I do love visiting botanical gardens when I travel. I love learning about the local floras and they are normally so tranquil that they provide wonderful respite when travels get tedious.
Marisol@TravelingSolemates recently posted..Vietnam: The Colorful Hilltribe Market of Bac Ha
Such a great part of Catalonia this.
This is stunning! Your photos make me feel like I’m right there (how I wish I was!!)
Andrea recently posted..Marone! The Sopranos Sites Tour With On Location Tours
Long for those temperatures, too, every once in a while…
This part of catalonian Spain is really breathtaking, during my studies I’ve spent 2 semesters in Barcelona and we used to hang out on the Costa Brava beach. We’ve preferred the smaller places, Lloret de Mar is a famous place for european tourists with its crowded locals and bars, I think that the atmosphere of an authentic small catalonian village is pretty much better:) Your shots are stunning btw, the one with the prosecco has the same feeling of the catalonian country like I described above.
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Thanks for stopping by and for commenting. Hanging out on Costa Brava beaches sounds like a fab break from busy uni days.
Yes definitely love Botanical Gardens while travelling – there’s a wonderful one on the Italian island of Ischia that was created by the wife of composer William Walton. The Melbourne one is very lovely also
And this Costa Brava one has an Australian parrot?!
Natasha von Geldern recently posted..Australia snapshot: Newtown in Sydney
I’d love to see the one in Melbourne.
A beautiful garden and a chilled glass of cava. Life is good, Sophie!
InsideJourneys recently posted..The Story Behind the Lucea Clock Tower
It is indeed
The views look so refreshing! A nice escape, I bet.
A lovely – and unexpected – escape.
How beautiful! I haven’t been to this part of Spain but wow..that view is gorgeous and perfect indeed with that glass. Love all the diverse flowers and plants you were able to capture here. I love visiting Botanical Gardens especially during Spring.
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Gorgeous! I can’t wait to visit
What an amazing location. Great photography as well.
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