Jardin Botanique Floralpina

Arras, France

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Jardin Botanique Floralpina is a small, privately created botanical garden in Arras, laid out along a stream near the citadel and often described as a kind of densely packed botanical curiosity cabinet in the middle of the city.

Established in the 1950s by pharmacist and botanist Jean‑Michel Spas, it brings together thousands of plant species collected worldwide, including notable collections of alpine plants and peonies, rock gardens evoking arid mountains, a Mediterranean area, aquatic plants, and a number of remarkable trees from several continents, all on a site of about half a hectare.

The garden is known for its intimate, almost secret character and very limited opening hours, typically open only on special dates such as the last Sunday in May or for prearranged visits by botanists and experienced plant enthusiasts, making it a niche destination for visitors who appreciate rare species and specialized horticulture more than large public park facilities.