Natalie Daz

The botanical garden is organized in a circular shape in eleven flowerbeds where more than 3,000 species are arranged. Each plant is identified by a small label. A color code identifies the plants according to their main property: red for medicinal plants, food plants with white, yellow for plants for industrial use, black for poisonous plants and green for the rest of the plants.

Built in the 16th century by order of Gabriel du Puy, the Gabriel tower defended the west side of the Mount. Inside, protected by thick walls, the cannons, arranged on three floors, could fire in all directions through flared loopholes to the outside. This great bastion could have withstood a siege by itself.

The North Tower (13th century) is an excellent viewpoint for observing the approach of the tides. This tower, built on a rocky spur, is very representative of the defensive style in force at the time of its construction: the highest possible height seemed to be the goal. The use of the cannon made this type of defense obsolete and later only low and robust towers were built on the Monte.

This tower has a slate roof on its top floor, but its interest lies in the fact that it dates from the 15th century and its ground plan is shaped like a spur. That is, the front part forms a triangle. It was designed for a new weapon of that time which was the artillery. It is a prototype of the triangular bastions found later in Renaissance fortresses, especially in the 17th century, at the time of Vauban.

It is an extensive and enigmatic system of tunnels, which have multiple entry points that include: caves, the chapel, the waterfall lake, and the "Leda Cave", which is located under the Regaleira Tower. It is like being, suddenly, in another world!.