The Man Who Drew Trees

To pay tribute to Francis Hallé, a great botanist and ardent defender of biodiversity who passed away in December 2025, the University of Montpellier is hosting an exhibition retracing his main commitments to life. A professor of botany at UM and a specialist in humid tropical forests, he dedicated his life to the study and protection of primary forests. Concerned with observing without destroying, he initiated the creation of the Radeau des cimes, a revolutionary device that allows exploration of the canopy, which he led from 1986 to 2003. This suspended laboratory welcomed researchers from around the world and revealed the immense biological richness of these ecosystems. A pioneer of "plant architecture," Francis Hallé was also a talented illustrator. His notebooks are filled with precise and poetic sketches, reflecting his unique perspective on the plant world.

Find all practical information and plan your visit.