Built in the mid-nineteenth century, under the Second Empire, the fort of Sainte-Address is still today one of the tourist jewels of the city of Le Havre, in Normandy. Originally built to defend the harbor of possible English attacks, it could accommodate 500 men in normal times and more than 1500 in case of war.
Disaffected and left abandoned in the late 1970s, the site was bought by the municipality in the 2000s and now houses in its interior a beautiful botanical garden. The site, today called the hanging gardens, presents to its visitors nearly 3700 plant species, offering a real trip around the world and the time.
The former Fort of Sainte-Address honors the great botanists who traveled the world from the Le Havre across the greenhouses, the garden of North America, the garden of contemporary explorers, the garden of Asia de l'Estée The austral garden, the gardens of the low walk or the garden Cayeux.
In addition to its usual collections, the place that benefits from the remarkable garden label, offers many events all year long as exhibitions, guided tours or gardening workshops.
