Visit of the garden of the German Belle
The park of the German Belle is a garden set in a clearing leaning against the hill of the Croix-Rousse, on two long terraces that follow the meanders of the Saône that can be seen between the trees. It surrounds an eighteenth century house of the castle of the German Belle, and its Pink Tower by Jean Kleberger, native of Nuremberg in Germany, the famous "Man of the Rock" or the Good German (his wife being "The German Belle") whose statue adorns the quay Pierre Scize. In the old notarial deeds (sale of the estate in 1802 to Baron de Vouty) is described a park with a double alley of chestnut trees, a vineyard, a vegetable garden, a pleasure garden, ponds. In 1981, date of acquisition of the Belle Allemande by the current owners, remained only the chestnut alley and pools in poor condition. Over the years, passionate plant owners have created the current garden by drawing informal massifs with maples, old roses, hydrangeas, boxwood, hostas, ferns, grasses and a wide variety of perennials. It is a garden for all four seasons. In spring, wild ducks nest among hundreds of daffodils, daffodils, sawdust, wood, tulips; summer appear roses, hydrangeas and winter, decorative barks. In the heart of the city, with its dwarf chickens, roosters and peacock pigeons, this park is also a sanctuary for wild birds that find their food all year round thanks to the many plant species. This garden is part of the Parks and Gardens Rhone-Alpes