Rue de la Pépinière Royale

Did a royal nursery once grace the area near Rue de la Pépinière Royale? It’s hard to believe, looking at the modest stairway and few trees here now. But yes, the Rue de la Pépinière Royale was once home to a vibrant Royal Nursery. Established in 1787, the nursery was connected to the Botanical Garden of Versailles. Its purpose was the “education of forest and fruit trees.” Abbé Rozier, a prominent botanist, was entrusted with its creation and management. Imagine this area teeming with diverse plant life. By 1824, the Royal Nursery boasted an impressive collection. Over 1460 species and varieties thrived here, including 94 exotic tree species. Some of these very species still exist today within the collection of Lyon’s Botanical Garden. Sadly, the Royal Nursery disappeared in the mid-19th century. The municipal botanical garden consolidated its collections at Tête d’Or Park, marking the end of an era for the Rue de la Pépinière Royale. Notable figures succeeded Abbé Rozier in managing the nursery, including Rast-Maupas. He worked with various mulberries and silk, focusing on hybridization and grafting. Botany played a crucial role at that time, particularly for animal feed and the overall economy. Silk was vital to Lyon. But botany also served cabinetmaking, carpentry, and wheelwrighting. The quest was always to find the best species. The legacy of the nursery lingers on in the very name of the street: Rue de la Pépinière Royale.