“Remember the Jardin des Merveilles?” a child’s voice echoes nearby. The La baleine bleue du Jardin des Merveilles Sculpture stands before us. It is a relic from a beloved Montreal attraction.
The Jardin des Merveilles opened in 1957. It was a children’s zoo in Parc La Fontaine. Claude Robillard designed it with Roland Proulx. They drew inspiration from Disneyland. The Jardin aimed to enchant kids with fairy tales and animals.
Imagine a world of vibrant displays. Cinderella, The Tortoise and the Hare came to life. Even Cadet Rousselle had its place. The Jardin quickly became a hit. In its first two months, 250,000 people visited.
The Jardin had humble beginnings. In 1905, the city accepted two deer for display. This grew into a small zoo. It housed monkeys, wolves, and bears. By the 1940s, critics slammed the zoo’s poor conditions. The city closed it in 1955. Animals moved to Granby Zoo.
The new Jardin focused on smaller animals. Chickens, geese, rabbits, and monkeys delighted children. Désiré Aerts, also known as Uncle Pierre, cared for the animals. He was a TV personality.
Babar the elephant was a star. Llamas from the Tintin exhibit also drew crowds. The sea lion show was a must-see. Yet, the most iconic symbol was La baleine bleue du Jardin des Merveilles Sculpture.
La baleine bleue du Jardin des Merveilles Sculpture held a special secret. The whale’s belly housed a fish aquarium. Children could walk inside. They gazed at colorful fish.
1964 was a banner year. A puppet theater opened. Micheline Legendre adapted Tintin stories. The Jardin also launched Jardin sous la neige. Thirteen thousand lights lit up the park. A nativity scene charmed visitors. An ice castle surrounded the sea lion pool. The event was extremely popular.
Sadly, the Jardin declined in the 1980s. Exhibits fell into disrepair. Fairy tales lost their appeal. Concerns grew about animal welfare. In September 1988, the Jardin closed. Animals went to Parc Angrignon for the winter. They never returned.
Today, La baleine bleue du Jardin des Merveilles Sculpture remains. It is a reminder of childhood wonder. It recalls a time when fairy tales and animals lived side-by-side. This blue whale stands as a monument to memories. It invites us to remember the magic of the Jardin des Merveilles.