Jardin Japonais

Former mayor Pierre Baudis created the garden in 1981 because he wanted his city to have a similar green area after visiting Dublin, Ireland, and experiencing Japanese gardens in Kyoto. Just south of the Canal du Midi and a short distance from the Compans-Cafferelli subway station, it is located inside the larger Jardin de Compans-Cafferelli.

The southern gate proudly proclaims that the award-winning garden was named a remarkable garden of France in 1993 with a winding, shaded path luring visitors in by revealing very little of the delights to come. Like any good Japanese garden, the paths attract visitors through a variety of landscapes, starting at the southern gate.

The teahouse and pond below are all visible from the garden's highest point, which can be reached by immediately turning to the right. Alternately, keep walking along the path until you reach the karesansui rock garden and emerge into the sunshine. With its rows of meticulously raked white pebbles, this area of the park resembles the Zen gardens of some of the most well-known temples.

There is a tea house nearby where guests can unwind in the shade and take in the many views of the garden, including the karesansui portion, the pond, and views of a tiny Mt. Fuji on the other side of the lawns or, to the left, a dry waterfall at the top of the pond. Additionally, there are signs within the tea house that describe the different aspects of Japanese gardens in general and this Japanese garden, as well as the background of Mayor Baudis' original concept for the park.

Carps and turtles may still be seen in the pond, which adds to the authenticity of the garden even though the water is slightly more opaque than in typical Japanese gardens. A Benten temple is the only item missing when one enters a little island via the arched crimson bridge. The only sounds you'll hear while strolling through this garden are the birds and the wind in the trees. Without ever leaving French land, visitors can momentarily go to the Orient.

One of the ponds around the garden's perimeter, which is technically outside the Japanese garden, is home to an awesome sculpture of a dragon submarine, its metallic body filled with various mechanical pipes and dials that would have made Jules Verne proud. This sculpture is in keeping with the Asian theme of the garden. It is a 1993 sculpture by Tom Petrusson that is also known as the Tholus steampunk and is a beautiful fusion of East and West.