Compans-Caffarelli Park
Photo: Caroline Léna Becker / CC BY 2.0, modified.
Overview
The Japanese Garden of Compans-Caffarelli, officially Jardin japonais Pierre-Baudis, is a 7,000 m² Japanese garden in central Toulouse. The City of Toulouse states that it was created in 1981, designed and maintained by the municipal Gardens and Green Spaces service, and modelled on the Katsura Imperial Villa in Kyoto.
Most French and tourism sources give the creation date as 1981, while Nodaigarden lists the garden as opened in 1982.
History
The garden was created on the initiative of Pierre Baudis, mayor of Toulouse from 1971 to 1983, after he had been impressed by Japanese gardens during his travels. It forms part of the redevelopment of the former Compans-Caffarelli military barracks area into a modern urban park. Toulouse tourism describes the garden as a synthesis of Kyoto gardens from the 14th to 16th centuries.
Design features
The garden includes a pond, red bridge, island, tea pavilion, dry garden, stones, planted areas, symbolic landscape features and Far Eastern botanical varieties. It is inspired by classical Kyoto garden models and designed as a place for meditation and rest within the larger urban park.
Garden elements
Bridges
Buildings
Enclosures
Waters and islands
Stones
Other elements
Current status
Extant public Japanese garden within Compans-Caffarelli Park. It is freely accessible, maintained by the City of Toulouse, and holds the French Jardin remarquable label.