Botanical Garden of Curitiba
ParanĂ¡
The Botanical Garden of Curitiba, officially named Jardim BotĂ¢nico Fanchette Rischbieter, is a landmark park in Curitiba, ParanĂ¡, Brazil, established in 1991. Designed in the style of French formal gardens, it features expansive gardens with fountains, waterfalls, and lakes. Its most iconic structure is the Art Nouveau greenhouse, inspired by London's 19th-century Crystal Palace, showcasing tropical plant species from Brazil's Atlantic Forest. The garden spans approximately 240,000 to 278,000 square meters, including preserved Atlantic Forest areas. The park also houses the Botanic Museum, home to Brazil's fourth-largest herbarium and a vital research center for native flora. Adjacent is the Frans Krajcberg Cultural Space, dedicated to the Polish-Brazilian artist known for environmental activism, exhibiting sculptures and multimedia works crafted from burned or illegally felled wood. Additional attractions include the Sensory Garden, which offers a tactile and aromatic plant experience, and facilities like auditoriums, libraries, and cycle tracks. The garden is a cultural and ecological hub that blends natural beauty, scientific research, and environmental education, making it a must-visit destination in Curitiba.
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Tip: Visit during weekdays in the morning for a quieter experience and pleasant temperatures. Purchasing tickets online is recommended to avoid queues. Discounts are often available for students, seniors, and groups. The garden offers guided tours and educational programs, so booking in advance can enhance your visit. Comfortable walking shoes are advised due to the extensive grounds.
Interesting facts
- •The greenhouse's design is inspired by the 19th-century Crystal Palace in London, featuring an Art Nouveau style with a modern metallic structure.
- •The Botanic Museum houses the fourth-largest herbarium in Brazil, containing approximately 400,000 plant specimens.
- •The Frans Krajcberg Cultural Space exhibits over 110 large-scale artworks made from burned or illegally felled trees, emphasizing environmental destruction.
- •In 2007, the garden was the most voted monument in the Seven Wonders of Brazil contest.
- •The Sensory Garden allows visitors to experience plants through touch, smell, and sound, including a tunnel of vegetation and cascades.
History
The Botanical Garden of Curitiba was inaugurated on October 5, 1991, named in honor of Francisca Maria Garfunkel Rischbieter, a pioneering urban planner of Curitiba.
It was designed in the French formal garden style and inspired by the Crystal Palace in London for its greenhouse.
Over the years, it has expanded to include the Botanic Museum in 1992 and the Frans Krajcberg Cultural Space.
In 2007, it was voted the most popular monument in Brazil's Seven Wonders contest.
The garden has grown both as a tourist attraction and a center for botanical research and environmental awareness.
Place Guide
Art Nouveau Greenhouse1991
The park's centerpiece, this greenhouse spans 458 square meters and showcases tropical plants from Brazil's Atlantic Forest. Its design is inspired by the Crystal Palace in London and features three domes with a modern metallic frame, offering visitors a unique botanical experience.
Botanic Museum1992
A wooden structure accessible via a wooden bridge, housing Brazil's fourth-largest herbarium with around 400,000 dried plant specimens. It includes research facilities, a library, exhibition spaces, and an auditorium, serving as a national reference for native flora.
Frans Krajcberg Cultural Space
Dedicated to the Polish-Brazilian artist Frans Krajcberg, this 1,320 square meter space features multimedia classrooms, a 60-seat auditorium, and exhibitions of sculptures and reliefs made from burnt or illegally cut wood, highlighting environmental issues.
Sensory Garden (Jardim das Sensações)2008
Opened in 2008, this garden is enclosed by a hedge and designed to engage visitors' senses through direct contact with plants of varied textures, shapes, and scents. Visitors can explore the garden with or without a blindfold, experiencing sounds of cascades and wind.
