Le Jardin Zen d'Erik Borja, an inspiring Japanese style garden in the south of France

Visit Les Jardins d'Erik Borja

The garden Zen of Erik Borja is situated in Beaumont-Monteux in the Drome department of the Rhone-Alpes region.

Explore the Jardin Zen d'Erik Borja

The main inspiration is Japanese especially in the parts of the garden close to the house. Next to the house is a traditional raked gravel area with a rich planting of ornamental trees and shrubs of different shades of green.

There is also an ornamental pond adding to the tranquility of the scene and taking inspiration from the importance of water in a Japanese garden.

Erik Borja is a sculptor and has been devoting his artistic flair to this delightful garden since 1973. The garden is now about four hectares in size and consists of a tea garden, a meditation garden, a mediterranean garden, a riverside arboretum and the 'south garden' with two large ponds.

Here, as elsewhere in the garden, many of the trees have been cloud pruned including common hawthorn trees giving me an idea for some that are growing as weeds in my own garden!

Further away from the house are the tea gardens with two large ponds with miniature waterfalls and a wonderful selection of plants and shrubs to admire. The noise of the frogs in this part of the garden is absolutely deafening. The garden is obviously home to a large array of wildlife.

In the South garden there are two bigger ponds shaded by three large oak trees.

Japanes sculptures and plants such as the wonderful flowering dogwood - Cornus florida, add to the Japanese theme and a huge wisteria covers a tree in scented purple flowers.

The Mediterranean parts of the garden are inspired by the years Erik Borja spent in Algeria and particularly by the Jardins de Tipasa.

The Jardin Zen d' Erik Borja garden guide

The Jardin Zen d'Erik Borja is open January to November, from Monday to Friday, from 09.00 to 12.00 and 13.30 to 17.30. The gardens are located close to Valence in South East France.

Prices are 10 euros for adults and 7,50 euros for 10-18s. Under 10s are free.

Address: Le Jardin Zen d'Erik Borja, 530 chemin du Jardin Zen, 26600 Beaumont-Monteux, France

Gardens to visit nearby

In the Drome department there are numerous villages which have been labelled as botanic villages for their interesting planting. Each village has chosen a theme and ensures there are a minimum of 150 varieties of plants in their chose theme.

Attractive villages combined with attractive planting - you couldn't ask for more.

Albon - plants chosen for their magical and symbolic qualities

Barnave - drought tolerant plants

Chabrillan - peonies and sweet peas

Hauterives - attractive foliage

Grignan - mediterranean plants and roses

Manas- rare and unusual shrubs

Mirmande - plants and shrubs chosen for their foliage

Montelier - trees and shrubs chosen for their berries

Montvendre - oriental plants

The Jardin d'Eden is a charming woodland garden in the town of Tournon-sur-Rhone. The garden is situated on a hillside overlooking the town and river and has lovely views over them both.

You can find more local travel ideas in the South East France guide,