Botanical Garden of Lourizán

The Botanical Garden of Lourizán is an arboretum spread across 54 hectares of grounds belonging to the Pazo de Lourizán estate, in the municipality of Pontevedra, in Galicia, northwestern Spain. It holds one of the largest plant collections in the entire country and is recognized as the most important botanical garden in Galicia.

What can visitors find at Lourizán?

The heart of the garden is a catalogued collection of more than 850 plant species. A collection of that scale makes the site a reference point for botanists and nature enthusiasts exploring Galicia — few arboretums in the region can match this level of diversity. The grounds themselves, covering 54 hectares, form part of the historic Pazo de Lourizán estate, which gives a walk through the garden an added layer of context: the vegetation has developed within the setting of a former manor property.

Why does this garden matter for Galicia?

Lourizán is described as the most important botanical garden in the whole of Galicia. That distinction is not incidental — it follows directly from the size of the collection and the extent of land the arboretum occupies. In a region where the Atlantic climate favors lush vegetation, a collection this large and varied functions as a natural reference point for observing flora, both native species and those introduced from other climatic zones.

Where exactly is the garden located?

The garden lies in the municipality of Pontevedra, within the province of the same name, at coordinates close to 42.41°N and 8.665°W. This location places it near the city of Pontevedra, the provincial capital, making it an easily reachable stop for anyone exploring this part of Galicia.

How does an arboretum differ from an ordinary park?

The key difference lies in the nature of the collection: an arboretum, unlike a typical park, gathers plants deliberately and catalogues them with the aim of documenting species diversity. At Lourizán, that means a collection of more than 850 entries, placing it among the largest of its kind in Spain. It is precisely this scale and systematic approach to the collection that sets a botanical garden apart from ordinary urban greenery.

Frequently asked questions

How many plant species can be seen at the Botanical Garden of Lourizán? The collection includes more than 850 catalogued species, making it one of the largest in Spain.

How large is the garden's grounds? The arboretum covers 54 hectares within the Pazo de Lourizán estate.

Where is the garden located? In the municipality of Pontevedra, Galicia, northwestern Spain, at coordinates near 42.41°N, 8.665°W.

Is it the most important botanical garden in the region? Yes — Lourizán is recognized as the most important botanical garden in all of Galicia, largely due to the size and diversity of its collection.

Is the garden part of a larger estate? Yes, the arboretum's grounds form part of the land belonging to Pazo de Lourizán, a historic estate in the municipality of Pontevedra.