Rosa Mir Garden

Jules Senis was born in Spain in Burjasot in the Valence region in 1913. After training in the rigorous trade-guilds school, he became a master mason, respecting a four-generation family tradition. Joining the republican side during the Spanish Civil war, he resolved to flee Francoism and took refuge in France in 1947. He arrived in Lyon in 1951 with his wife and two sons, and started a masonry and tiling business in Croix-Rousse. Diagnosed with throat cancer in 1952, he spent three years in hospital; following an unexpected recovery, he decided to carry out his dream of creating a garden. His determination to complete the project helped him to overcome the challenge.

The architectural structure is characterized by the places in Spain where Jules Senis had worked: the multicultural, republican Spain of the creator, the Alhambra of Grenada, the Basilica of Montserrat in Catalonia, the architect Gaudi, the " builder" of Barcelona, creator of Güell Park and the Sagrada Familia.

Owned by the city of Lyon, this unusual garden reopens after 5 years of renovation with the help of Frédéric Reynaud, landscape architect.

Nearly 450 plants were planted in the upper basins and 4000 houseleek found place in the Saint-Jacques shells. Besides the 750 perennial, the walker discovers an impressive range of 5,000 plants imported from Mediterranean.

— Guided tours 2025

Guided tours are organized by Lyon Nature at a cost of 6 euros per person per tour. Reservations are required:

- 2, 9 and 16 April at 10 am

- 14 May at 10am

- 4, 18 and 25 June at 10am

- 2 July at 10am