Timeline

Key figures

Origin and history

The water gardens of the Pré Curieux are a botanical park located between Évian-les-Bains and Publier, in Haute-Savoie, on the shores of Lake Geneva. Inaugurated in 2002, this landscape project explores interactions between water and plants, integrating floating plants such as water lilies, wet meadows and Mediterranean species. The site, accessible only by solar boat from the quays of Evian, preserves the spirit of the great lake properties of the 19th and 20th centuries, while proposing an ecological and sensitive approach to the landscape.

The park is organized around several thematic areas, such as the quiet water garden (former rose garden transformed into pools planted with lotus and pontaderia), or a pond created at the site of an old tennis court, fed by a stream and lake. The trails lead to natural areas such as marshes or planted banks, offering views of the Vaud coast. Garden management favours spontaneous plant dynamics, with minimal intervention to avoid the domination of a species.

Designed by landscape architect Laurent Daune and lighting designer Philippe Hébert, the project has managed to preserve the genius loci (the spirit of the place) by rehabilitating historical elements, such as a cut alcove or centenary pine trees. The central building houses an exhibition on the impluvium of Evian, the marshes of the Gavot plateau, and the philosophy of the garden. With its 3.5 hectares, the site combines natural heritage, ecological innovation and tribute to the private gardens of Geneva, while offering a unique immersive experience.

The access by solar boat, from the pontoon opposite the casino of Evian, recalls the traditions of lake properties, where visitors arrived by water. This logistical constraint reinforces the preservation of the site, isolated from the neighbouring national road. The garden is managed in partnership with the Conservatoire du littoral, guaranteeing its sustainability and its openness to the public as an area of biodiversity and environmental awareness.

The gardens of the Pre Curieux are distinguished in Haute-Savoie by their botanical, landscaped and poetic approach. They offer a refuge for lake plants threatened by the urbanization of the shores, while offering a route between open landscapes on the Geneva and intimate gardens. The diversity of habitats (wetlands, banks, grasslands) favours an increasingly rich fauna and flora, making it an ecological and heritage management model.

External links