Wild plant walks in Collias
Discover the edible and medicinal wild plants of the Mediterranean garrigue, in the heart of the UNESCO biosphere reserve of the Gardon gorges
My name is Béatrice. Certified in aromatic and medicinal plants (BPREA), I offer, on request, discovery walks around Collias. A few steps outside the village is enough to find yourself immersed in a landscape as beautiful as it is captivating: the garrigue. A real larder and an open-air pharmacy, which locals have explored and used for millennia.
What we discover together
The emblems of our hills
Thyme (Thymus vulgaris) and rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis), undisputed queens of the Gard garrigue. You recognize them by their fragrance as soon as the sun warms the limestone. Learn how to pick them, dry them, tell them apart from their relatives.
Edible & medicinal
Sage, bay laurel, wild fennel, St. John's wort, Italian helichrysum, calendula… We learn to identify them, distinguish them, and understand traditional uses — no miracle recipes, just the attention plants deserve.
The rhythm of the season
Each walk depends on what the garrigue offers at that moment: spring flowering, summer solstice for St. John's wort, juniper berry harvest in autumn. The same hillside tells a different story every season.
Practical info
Duration
2 to 3 hours, at your own pace
Location
Departure from the house, in Collias
Level
Easy walk, open to everyone
Walks offered on request (no fixed calendar). Get in touch for dates and details.
Why here?
The hills above Collias are classified in the UNESCO biosphere reserve of the Gardon gorges. It's no accident: biodiversity is remarkable, limestone soils and Mediterranean climate create ideal conditions for the aromatic and medicinal plants typical of the South.