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<\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n\nWe listen to him avidly, as if savouring a delicious meal. As head gardener of the National Estate of Trianon, the Grand Park of the Palace of Versailles and head of the National Estate of Marly-le-Roi, Alain Baraton will be benefitting us with his wisdom on PONANT cruises around the world. On board,\u00a0<\/span>during conferences in french,\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span>this botanical expert will be sharing his great knowledge of plants, tells absorbing historical anecdotes and imparts his passion with enjoyment and a sharp wit.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n
[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=\u201d4.16\u2033 _module_preset=\u201ddefault\u201d background_enable_color=\u201doff\u201d background_enable_image=\u201doff\u201d width=\u201d100%\u201d width_tablet=\u201d\u201d width_phone=\u201d\u201d width_last_edited=\u201don|phone\u201d max_width=\u201d1000px\u201d module_alignment=\u201dcenter\u201d custom_padding=\u201d||5px||false|false\u201d global_colors_info=\u201d{}\u201d theme_builder_area=\u201dpost_content\u201d][et_pb_column type=\u201d4_4\u2033 _builder_version=\u201d4.16\u2033 _module_preset=\u201ddefault\u201d background_enable_color=\u201doff\u201d background_enable_image=\u201doff\u201d background_size=\u201dcontain\u201d global_colors_info=\u201d{}\u201d theme_builder_area=\u201dpost_content\u201d][et_pb_image src=\u201dhttps:\/\/escales.ponant.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Alain-Baraton-Versailles.jpg\u201d alt=\u201dAlain-Baraton-Versailles\u201d title_text=\u201dAlain-Baraton-Versailles\u201d align=\u201dcenter\u201d _builder_version=\u201d4.16\u2033 _module_preset=\u201ddefault\u201d global_colors_info=\u201d{}\u201d theme_builder_area=\u201dpost_content\u201d][\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=\u201d4.16\u2033 _module_preset=\u201ddefault\u201d max_width=\u201d900px\u201d custom_padding=\u201d0px||0px||true|false\u201d global_colors_info=\u201d{}\u201d theme_builder_area=\u201dpost_content\u201d][et_pb_column type=\u201d4_4\u2033 _builder_version=\u201d4.16\u2033 _module_preset=\u201ddefault\u201d global_colors_info=\u201d{}\u201d theme_builder_area=\u201dpost_content\u201d][et_pb_text _builder_version=\u201d4.16\u2033 _module_preset=\u201ddefault\u201d header_2_font=\u201d|300|||||||\u201d header_2_text_color=\u201d#334556\u2033 header_2_font_size=\u201d38px\u201d custom_padding=\u201d0px||40px||false|false\u201d global_colors_info=\u201d{}\u201d theme_builder_area=\u201dpost_content\u201d]<\/p>\n
You\u2019re head gardener of the National Estate of Trianon, the Grand Park of the Palace of Versailles and head of the National Estate of Marly-le-Roi. Could you describe for us what makes these gardens so special?\u00a0<\/strong><\/h3>\n
<\/span><\/p>\n
These parks were in their golden age under Louis XIV, and ever since have been frequented on a continual basis by kings, emperors and presidents. And even now, the French Constitution is revised at Versailles. These are important sites that have ushered in four centuries of\u00a0<\/span>French history<\/strong>. The French public reveres these places. They are part of their heritage.<\/span><\/p>\n
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You are going to be the botanical guide on several PONANT cruises, going to all four corners of the globe. What does a land specialist have in common with a sea specialist?<\/strong><\/h3>\n
In every era, plants have been discovered and brought back by ships. For example,\u00a0<\/span>the<\/strong>\u00a0<\/span>mimosa<\/strong>, which these days is a symbol of the C\u00f4te d\u2019Azur, was originally a plant from the southern hemisphere. It was discovered and brought back to Europe by the British explorer\u00a0<\/span>James Cook<\/strong>. It was great explorers and botanists who enabled plants to circulate. It\u2019s an honour to be able to follow in the footsteps of\u00a0<\/span>great botanists<\/strong>\u00a0<\/span>such as Antoine-Laurent Jussieu or Antoine Richard, gardener to Louis XVI and his father, Claude Richard, gardener to Louis XV. They travelled the world to bring back\u00a0<\/span>extraordinary plants<\/strong>.<\/p>\n
You know, in those days, every port had a special garden, a place where plants that came from elsewhere were quarantined. Plants used to form a part of all trades, and were traded for food certainly but were also traded for medical reasons. You had to be a botanist first before you could become a doctor. It was also a social phenomenon. Social climbers had to have a manor house, a carriage and rare plants, some of which could cost a fortune.<\/p>\n
You are going to three distinctly different regions: Northern Europe, the Seychelles and Central America. Which \u201cone-of-a-kind\u201d plant is not to be missed in each of these locations? <\/strong><\/h3>\n
In\u00a0<\/span>Central America<\/a>, it\u2019s\u00a0<\/span>the<\/strong>\u00a0<\/span>tomato<\/strong>\u00a0<\/span>without a doubt. These days it\u2019s one of the most widely eaten fruits in the world and is recongised by everybody. In the past, people were suspicious of it because it looked like this other poisonous plant and people waited over 200 years before eating it.<\/p>\n
In Northern Europe, the\u00a0<\/span>tulip<\/strong>\u00a0<\/span>has had a turbulent history. Few people were interested in it in its native birthplace of Turkey. It was introduced and cultivated in the Netherlands in 1554, where it was an instant hit. It was so popular that in the 1630s there was an absolute craze for tulips, earning itself the name \u201ctulip mania\u201d. People speculated wildly on tulips and the prices increased by 5,000% in three years! You can see an incredible example of it in the annals. A single tulip bulb was traded for 12 sheep, 4 cows, 8 pigs, 40 tonnes of rye, 24 tonnes of wheat, 2 barrels of wine, 2 tonnes of butter, 4 barrels of beer, cheese, clothes, furniture and a boat!<\/p>\n