Did you know? Discover France's oldest cedar of Lebanon in Paris and its unusual history.

Once upon a time, in 1734, in the magnificent Jardin des Plantes in Paris, there stood a cedar of Lebanon. Today, this majestic cedar has an extraordinary history. Introduced to France by the great botanist Bernard de Jussieu, it was not alone on its arrival, and the story of its first moments on French soil is most unusual.

• A cedar from England: Despite its name, this cedar did not come from Lebanon. Jealousy between nations prompted Bernard de Jussieu to cross the English Channel to obtain this specimen from England, where it had already been introduced in 1630. On his way home, the pot containing this precious tree broke, forcing Jussieu to improvise with his hat to protect it, an anecdote that is now part of legend.
  
• A duo separated by time: Originally, two cedars were brought from England as gifts from the Director of Kew Botanic Gardens. While one still stands at the Jardin des Plantes, the other, planted in Seine-et-Marne, was swept away by a storm in 1935. These two trees were the first cedars of Lebanon to take root in France.
  
• Cedar legends: Rumors abound about the true history of these trees. Some whisper that the seedlings were in Jussieu's hat throughout the journey, others that it was on his arrival in Paris that the pot broke. A shadow of mystery also hangs over the actual provenance of these trees, with some claiming they were stolen rather than gifted.
  
• The cedar through literature: A symbol of majesty and longevity, the cedar of Lebanon has inspired writers such as Alphonse de Lamartine, who evokes these mythical cedars in his Voyage en Orient in 1835. Unfortunately, deforestation was already threatening them in his day.

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In search of Paris's remarkable trees? Then head for the Jardin des Plantes labyrinth. This invitation to discovery offers a timeless escapade in a place steeped in history and mystery. The address? Jardin des Plantes, 57 rue Cuvier, Paris 5. Of course, you can also climb to the top of the labyrinth to discover the oldest metal structure in France: La Gloriette de Buffon.

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