VIDEO. The Jardins de Coursiana in La Romieu, a haven of greenery and peace in the Gers

“Family” and “passion” are certainly the two words that best define the Jardins de Coursiana in La Romieu. Previously owned by the famous botanist Gilbert Cours-Darne, the Delannoy couple bought the estate in 1992 with its 6 hectares of arboretum and 25 hectares of plum trees for plums. Cours-Darne, who would remain on the site until the end of his life in 2001 and the couple then undertook the renovation and beautification of the estate by their own means.

English gardens, medicinal plants, vegetable garden…

The adventure officially began in 1994 with the opening to the public under the name of Arboretum Coursiana. It is now a family affair as it is Jean, one of the Delannoy family’s sons, who takes over the company, with the continued support of Véronique and Arnaud, his parents. “I had a short military career and decided to return to gardens in 2017. I attended a landscaping school in Angers for 6 months, then learned in the field with my mother,” confides Jean Delannoy who also works with his wife Margaux.

“When we arrived at La Romieu, there were 300 different species of trees and shrubs on the site, planted by Gilbert Cours-Darne. Today there are more than 700! My husband has built and remodeled everything from the reception room to the walls of the aromatic medicinal plant garden over the years.

The family works on the estate long hours each day to achieve such a result: “Several times I’ve had days that start at 4.30am and finish around 9pm,” explains Jean Delannoy. Gradually the Delannoys transformed the property, planting and tending many plants. Now there is a vegetable garden, landscaped gardens, a place with medicinal plants and even a reception hall, inaugurated about ten years ago.

Adapt to climate change

The Jardins de Coursiana, classified as a “remarkable garden” and “park of botanical interest”, must adapt to climate change. “For some years now we have been facing extreme periods, either drought and heat or too much rain and storms, we have to learn to work with nature,” explain Margaux and Jean Delannoy who point out to be careful what they plant.

This passionate family works all year round to offer the 12,000 annual visitors a unique place, open from April to October. “We have lowered the prices, especially for the children, to allow families to come and enjoy the gardens at a lower cost,” says Jean Delannoy. The family also has a shop where local products are offered, most of which are made by them, such as syrups, jams, sorbets and even apple juice.