Champ de Mars Garden

Designed by the famous landscape architect Edouard André* at the end of the 19th century, this garden is distinguished by its curvilinear paths and waterfall cascading into the central pond. It recalls the atmosphere of the turn of the century, when the garden's essential function was strolling and the discovery of natural elements.

Open to the public since 1900, the park covers an area of 35,000 m2.

A little history: the military having abandoned their Champ de Mars, i.e. the military grounds in front of the citadel, the development of the site was entrusted to landscape architect Edouard André under the direction of deputy mayor Désiré Guéry, who was also president of the Société d'Horticulture et d'Histoire naturelle de l'Hérault. The water feature is made possible by the arrival of water from the Aqueduc des Arceaux.

Near the pond stands a statue by Jacques Villeneuve, sculpted in 1905. It depicts Marsyas, who challenged the god Apollo to find out who would be the best musician. Having been named winner of the contest by the muses, Apollo had Marsyas tied to a tree to be flayed alive.

Closer to the Place de la Comédie are two buildings constructed on the Champ de Mars and now devoted to art: the Pavillon populaire for photography and the Dominique Bagouet space dedicated to local artistic figures from the late 19th century to the present day. The first was the "Cercle des étudiants" built in 1891 by Léopold Carlier. Sold to the city in 1905, it became the headquarters of the associations, which gave it its current name, inscribed on the pediment of this neo-Renaissance building. As for the second, it housed the officers' library, whose mess is now the tourist office.

* Edouard André (1840-1911) also designed Parc Montsouris and Parc des Buttes Chaumont in Paris.