Latour-Marliac

The world’s oldest water lily nursery, Latour-Marliac inspired Claude Monet to establish his own water garden at Giverny.

Site History & Significance

Located in Le Temple-sur-Lot, near Agen, Latour-Marliac is the oldest water lily nursery in the world and home to the French National Collection of the genus Nymphaea. It was founded in 1875 by Joseph Bory Latour-Marliac, who is famous for pioneering the hybridization of water lilies through a process that retains its mystery to this day. He introduced his collection of hybrids at the Exposition universelle of 1889, and they won first prize in their category. They also captured the attention of Claude Monet, who later ordered Latour-Marliac water lilies for his now iconic pond at Giverny.

In 2007, the French-American landscaper Robert Sheldon, a lifelong enthusiast of water lilies, took over the site, continuing its legacy.

About the Restoration Project

The restoration project concerns the lotus basins, the oldest of which date back to 1870, and which have not undergone any major restoration to date. These basins, arranged in the shape of a horseshoe, require masonry work to reinforce their structure and restore their watertightness.

Latour-Marliac Today

Today, many of the colorful water lilies you see in nurseries and water gardens around the world trace their origins to Latour-Marliac. Designated a “Remarkable Garden,” Latour-Marliac spans 2.5 hectares and houses 250 hardy and tropical water lily species. It is open during the blooming season, from May to October, offering visitors the opportunity to explore the gardens, cultivation pools, greenhouses, bamboo grove and ponds featuring a Japanese bridge reminiscent of Giverny.