A Spice Garden with a History

Jardin du Roi is a spice garden in the hills overlooking Anse Royale beach. It traces its origins to Anse Royale’s original spice garden. Established around 1779 during the French colonial period, the garden was destroyed by fire and later redesigned as a place for relaxation and discovery. These stages give the garden a clear historical connection. Its location also shapes the view of the area: the hillside garden and the outlook over the beach are both part of its character. If you want to get to know Anse Royale through specific natural and cultural sites, this is a single attraction where these two perspectives come together.

A Walk Among Spices and Animals

The route passes through a sugar cane plantation, with cinnamon, pepper and nutmeg along the way. These three spices provide specific points of reference on the walk: you can experience the garden’s focus on spices not just in its name, but also along the path. Together with the plantation, they make the connection between the landscape and the garden’s spice theme clear. If you are interested in plants, you can follow the spices as you walk and experience the garden not just as a landscape, but also as a themed route.

Wildlife is also part of the visit. The walk passes aviaries housing hundreds of birds, and Jardin du Roi also includes a park for giant tortoises. The two animal areas offer different experiences: the aviaries are along the route, while the tortoise park is another part of the garden. You can easily set aside half a day to explore Jardin du Roi and its animal and plant life. This gives you a helpful time frame for including the garden as a separate stop in your travel plans.

Museum and Creole Cuisine

At the entrance to Jardin du Roi, an old Creole house serves as a museum. It displays old photographs as well as household items and appliances from earlier times. Photographs and everyday objects offer different perspectives on domestic life: the pictures are visual records, while the objects bring the household to life through its belongings. For travellers who enjoy looking at tangible objects, the museum adds a cultural and historical perspective to the walk. Moving from the outdoor paths into the house shifts the focus from spices and animals to photographs and household objects.

Food can also be part of your visit. A restaurant next to the museum may serve lunch with a typical Creole menu and other dishes. The food includes crêpes with fruit and spices from the Domaine. The menu is typically Creole, and the crêpes combine fruit with spices from the Domaine. If you would like to include lunch in your plans, check the restaurant’s current offering in advance.

Discover more destinations: Anse aux Pins, Takamaka, Mont Fleuri, Port Glaud, Anse Boileau, English River, Mont Buxton, Bel Ombre.

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