Since its founding in 2003, the Atlantic Botanical Garden (Jardín Botánico Atlántico) has delighted and enlightened visitors with its vast displays of local and international flora. Relax in the greenery and enrich your ecological understanding as you amble through the 15 hectares (37 acres) of designed land in these unique gardens, which hold over 15,000 plants and trees.
Explore the gardens by following the marked path through four different areas, each devoted to a certain botanical theme. The first region is dedicated to the local Cantabrian environment, representing its floral diversity over meadows, bushes and forests containing beeches, oaks and more.
Proceed to the Plant Factory area to learn about the different ways that humans have used the world’s flora, from fruits, vegetables and herbs to weeds and other unwanted plants, for the development of today’s civilization.
Head to the Garden of the Island section to marvel at this carefully landscaped garden that dates back some 150 years. Take a stroll around the picturesque arrangements of ponds, hydraulic mills, labyrinths and magnificent ornamental plants.
The final section offers a trail through the six ecosystems of the Atlantic, from the Mediterranean and the tropical Caribbean through to both temperate and boreal zones in Europe and America.
The gardens are dedicated to education, putting on a range of cultural and ecological initiatives throughout the year. Stop by the specialized bookstore and plant store, watch the wildlife film in the museum area and take a break at the beautiful on-site café. Information panels throughout the garden are available in English as well as Spanish.
On some summer nights, the gardens host a “magical night” of storytelling and performance, drawing on the traditional mythology of the Asturias region. Check event listings at the Jardín Botánico Atlántico website for dates and to see what else is on.
The Atlantic Botanical Garden (Jardín Botánico Atlántico) is located 1.2 miles (2 kilometres) from the Gijón city centre, easily accessible by bus or using on-site parking. There’s a small fee to enter the gardens, with a guided tour of seasonal highlights included. The gardens are open Tuesday through Sunday from September to June. It’s open on Mondays during July and August.
