Angers' botanical garden sits within easy walking distance of the city centre and is one of the better-maintained public gardens in the Loire Valley. The four hectares include formal flower beds, a rockery, greenhouses with tropical plants, and a section of rare and medicinal plants maintained in association with the University of Angers pharmacy faculty.
It is free to enter and serves mainly as a place for Angevins to walk and sit, which makes it more pleasant and less curated than the typical botanical garden experience. The garden is at its best in May and June when the rose collections are in flower, and in October when the autumn colour hits the mature plane trees. A good option if you need an hour away from medieval stone.