La Serre du Chirurgien, France

La Serre du Chirurgien (“The Surgeon’s Greenhouse”) is a huge and impressive old glasshouse in the south of France. Although called a greenhouse, this seems to be a detached conservatory building rather than a greenhouse for growing plants. Little history is available online about this location.

Half of the greenhouse is circular, with a large dome ceiling. A patio table with parasol sits under here. A metal pole supporting several bulbous lamps hang above the parasol.

In the middle of La Serre du Chirurgien is a firepit, constructed of brick. A large funnel-shaped chimney hangs above, rusty after use of neglect. Some strands of ivy sprawl across the floor at the foot of the firepit, exploiting some of the broken window panes to sneak inside the greenhouse.

Around the edges there are several blocks of circular benches, which follow the curve of the glass walls of La Serre du Chirurgien. Guests would sit here and at the patio table and enjoy food cooked on the firepit.

It is unclear whether this greenhouse was once associated with the adjacent house, or the school/college type buildings a little further away..

Outside there is a rusty spiral staircase, leading to a walkway at the top of the greenhouse. The exterior walls are partially overgrown by ivy and other scrambling plants.

Visiting La Serre du Chirurgien in 2018

I visited this location in the summer of 2018. We drove across southern France, on our way to Italy. Greenhouses are always my favourite locations. Witnesses verdant nature reclaim these flimsy glass and metal structures is always fascinating. I had wanted to visit this location for several years, and it was good to finally step inside. The weather was glorious, a perfect sunny day. I took the time to enjoy the surrounded trees and sounds of birds singing.