La serre des orchidées

The Pescatore Foundation’s orchid greenhouse allows visitors to LUGA to admire a large number of tropical orchids, such as those that Jean-Pierre Pescatore once cultivated in the greenhouses of his estate in La Celle-Saint-Cloud near Paris .

This project of exceptional scope will be organized to remember and honor the merits of the greatest collector and cultivator of orchids in Europe of the mid-19th century , Jean-Pierre Pescatore, originally from the city of Luxembourg. Part of his collection of more than 2,000 plants will be reproduced in a greenhouse placed on a very emblematic site: the grounds of his foundation, which today houses a charitable establishment for the elderly and which was the site of one of the first horticultural exhibitions in Luxembourg exactly 150 years ago, in 1875 .

Opening hours:

Monday – Thursday: 11:00 am – 6:00 pm

Friday – Saturday: 11:00 am – 8:00 pm

Sunday: 11:00 am – 6:00 pm

@LUGA

Le saviez-vous ?

Did you know that in the mid-19th century, the largest private orchid collection in Europe belonged to a Luxembourger?

This is Jean-Pierre Pescatore (1793-1855), a Luxembourg businessman and philanthropist. He is best known for financing the Pescatore Foundation, the retirement home located in Luxembourg City. He emigrated to Paris in 1837 and acquired the Château de La Celle-Saint-Cloud in 1844, where he created, among other things, a famous orchid greenhouse housing more than 2,000 orchids, including over 700 different varieties, attracting all of Parisian high society. Emperor Napoleon III (nephew of Napoleon I) and Empress Eugenie were among the visitors.

© Paul Pescatore — A postcard (circa 1910) of the Château de La Celle-Saint-Cloud, showing an orchid greenhouse on the left and an orangery on the right.

Jean-Jules Linden (1837-1898), also born in Luxembourg, whose main patron was Jean-Pierre Pescatore, provided him with several species of orchids discovered in Central America during his expeditions, such as Lüddemannia Pescatorei or Uropedium Lindenii . Linden also published an iconography of his orchid collection entitled Pescatorea , which can be consulted at the National Library of Luxembourg.

Partenaire Fondation Pescatore

The J.-P. Pescatore Foundation , located in the heart of the city, is an institution that is over a century old and a pioneer in retirement homes. Its creation dates back to the testamentary provisions of Jean-Pierre Pescatore, which paved the way for the construction of a charitable establishment in the City of Luxembourg.

L'Amazone Orchidées

With 40 years of experience, L’Amazone Orchidées specializes in orchid hybridization, the creation of new varieties. The company has been dedicated to orchids since 1980 and cultivates nearly 1,500 species and varieties. These are regularly presented at exhibitions throughout Europe. The greenhouse will be designed by orchid specialist and horticulturist Gérard Schmidt of L’Amazone Orchids.