A Renaissance plot
At the Château Royal de Blois, former residence of seven kings and ten queens of France, lies a unique collection of flora. The King's Garden (jardins du Roy) is an ornamental space; it contains the Garden of Simples and Royal Flowers, a modern re-imagining of a Renaissance garden with a deadly twist. Originally created by Louis XII, the gardens were redesigned in 1992 by landscaper Gilles Clément. This specific section is dedicated to the herbs and flowers of the era, including a collection of plants known for their toxic properties.
The garden's sinister theme connects to one of the château's most notorious residents, Catherine de' Medici, the Italian-born Queen of France from 1547 until 1559. Though many tales are likely exaggerated, Catherine was widely reputed to be an expert in the dark art of poisons. Rumors circulated that she used everything from poisoned gloves to scented letters to dispatch her political rivals. While historians have discredited most of these claims, the legends persist. The garden at Blois is a catalog of the very real plants whose toxic properties fueled such fears during the Renaissance.
The science of poison
The garden shows the link between medicine and poison. Many plants cultivated for their healing properties in apothecaries are deadly in higher doses. This collection includes infamous species whose chemical defenses were used for centuries. Visitors can find Atropa belladonna, or deadly nightshade. All parts of the plant contain atropine and scopolamine alkaloids that can cause paralysis and hallucinations. Its common name, "belladonna" or "beautiful lady," comes from its cosmetic use in the Renaissance; women used drops from the plant to dilate their pupils.
Another featured plant is Conium maculatum, or hemlock. This member of the carrot family contains coniine, a neurotoxin that paralyzes the respiratory system. It was famously used by the ancient Greeks for executions, most notably that of the philosopher Socrates. Also present is Aconitum napellus, or monkshood, sometimes called wolfsbane. It contains aconitine, one of the most potent plant-based cardiotoxins and neurotoxins. Even accidental skin contact can cause severe symptoms. The garden contains dozens of such plants, each with a specific and well-documented biochemical method of action that made them effective tools for poisoners.