Rendez-vous aux Jardins is an initiative of the French Ministry of Culture, organized every year during the first weekend in June. This festive event enables everyone to visit public and private gardens that are normally inaccessible or little known to the general public. With activities such as guided tours, gardening workshops, lectures and artistic performances, Rendez-vous aux Jardins is the ideal opportunity to reconnect with nature and discover the secrets of passionate landscapers and gardeners.
The Botanical Garden of Paris-Saclay University, located in the Essonne department, is an oasis of biodiversity and a key hub for scientific research. Founded in the early 20th century, this botanical garden was created to support education and research in botany and ecology. Today, it remains a valuable resource for students and researchers, while staying open to the public.
Home to an impressive collection of over 2,500 plant species, the garden is divided into several sections, each dedicated to a different region of the world. Among its treasures are tropical greenhouses featuring exotic orchids and rare ferns, alpine gardens showcasing high mountain flora, and areas devoted to traditional medicinal plants from various cultures. The Jardin Botanique de Paris-Saclay is not only a place of study, but also a conservation area, working to protect endangered species and raise public awareness of the importance of biodiversity.
Night Watch: a glimpse into nocturnal wildlife
When the sun goes down, the campus wears a different face. In the dark, another life awakens: bats on the hunt, silent owls, insects drawn to light… and sometimes discreet visitors like the fox or the badger.
This guided tour invites you to discover the night in a new way: how do animals see in the dark? What other senses do they rely on? How can you spot their presence without sighting them?
A sensory immersion to better understand this little-known world… and to question our own relationship with the night.
ON RESERVATION - Meeting point provided at registration, walking shoes recommended.
Renseignements et inscriptions : parc-botanique.launay@universite-paris-saclay.fr
Informations : https://www.universite-paris-saclay.fr/luniversite/les-campus/le-jardin-botanique-de-launay
Participation conditions: The meeting point will be provided at registration; walking shoes are recommended. - Free | By reservation - parc-botanique.launay@universite-paris-saclay.fr
Schedule: Saturday, June 6, 2026 — 8:30 PM to 10:30 PM
Dates and Opening Time
On June 6, 2026
Location
Botanical garden of the University of Paris-Saclay
Rue du Doyen André Guinier
91400 Orsay
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