Arboretum de Cardeilhac

Cardeilhac, France, France

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The Arboretum de Cardeilhac is a 13-hectare tree garden and experimental forest located in Cardeilhac, Haute-Garonne, in southern France, nestled within the larger 1,000-hectare Cardeilhac forest massif.

Created in 1913 (some sources say 1914) as an experimental site to test tree species for forestation of the Pyrenees foothills, it is now used primarily for education and recreation. The arboretum features more than 100 different tree species from around the world, including about 50 varieties of oak from different continents, organized in formal French-style gardens.

Visitors can explore the site via 13 kilometers of marked walking paths and 17 kilometers of riding trails suitable for hiking, horseback riding, or mountain biking, all accessible freely and year-round. At the entrance stands the Maison de l'Arboretum (Arboretum House), which hosts exhibitions, conferences, educational activities from May to November, a nature bookstore, and offers guided tours by appointment. Dogs are welcome but must be kept on a leash due to state forest regulations.