Escapade The Menton Garden route
- The four gardens suggested in this excursion are open to the public.
- Entry is free
- Tours are run frequently
- Tours are not free
For more information: www.tourisme-menton.fr
The garden route is evocative of sunshine, light, smells and colours, elements that are synonymous with the balmy Côte d’Azur and the subtropical plants that flourish there. For this particular excursion, we have focussed on the gardens of Menton - the most renowned gardens on the Riviera.
Gardens inherited from the Belle Epoque
Around the 18th century, rich British aristocrats started to discover the Riviera, its landscape and unbelievable climate. Having fallen in love with the place, they moved over and built rich villas for themselves as winter residences.
It was these winter dwellers that created Menton’s most beautiful gardens. They introduced hot-climate plants from all over the world, and some like the Mimosa did so well in their new home that they took over. Discover our excursion on the Mimosa Route
The gardens of Menton
We hope to help you discover four gardens open to the public that are bursting with hidden treasures, rare plants and beautiful homes: La Serre de la Madone garden, Le Palais Carnolès garden, the Maria Serena garden and the Fontana Rosa garden.
If you are arriving by bus:
If you decide to travel to Menton by bus, the nearest gardens to visit are the Carnolès garden and La Serre de la Madone garden.
Of all these gardens, Le jardin Carnolès is located closest to the sea. The park surrounds the former residence of the princes of Monaco, and contains the greatest collection of citrus plants in Europe. The walk is peppered with works of contemporary art designed to enhance the garden’s plant-life.
A little walk on, at the top of the Val de Gorbio road, on Menton’s higher ground, lays the garden of La Serre de la Madone. This remarkable estate dates back to 1924. The garden was solely designed by Major Lawrence Johnston. It has a unique landscape and contains hundreds of rare plants, terraces, pools, statues and fountains. This relaxing space also boasts a protected Mediterranean forest.
If you are arriving by train:
If you decide to travel to Menton by train, the nearest gardens to visit are located close to the town: the Maria Serena garden and the Fontana Rosa garden.
Le jardin de la villa Maria Serena dates back to the 1880s. Around that time, Charles Garnier (Paris Opera House’s architect) built a home for his friend Ferdinand de Lesseps. The 1.5 hectare garden contains a large collection of palm trees, cycas and tropical and subtropical plants. As you walk around the garden, you will also be able to enjoy beautiful views over the Bay of Menton.
Then, if you wish, you can walk on to the Fontana Rosa garden, which once belonged to the writer, Vicente Blasco Ibanez. He bought the property in 1921 and moulded it to mirror his personality. The Fontana Rosa garden embodies the spirit of Blasco Ibanez: it is filled with bronze busts of famous writers such as Dickens, Balzac and Flaubert. Meanwhile, the garden’s pergolas, columns and pools recall Vicente Blasco Ibanez’ native Spain.
If you come by car:
If you decide to travel by car, then you can easily visit all of Menton’s gardens.
the line is an indicative and approximate line
For an exceptional lunch or dinner, cote.azur recommends Le Mirazur restaurant. Its two-starred chef, Mauro Colagreco, serves up inventive and fresh-flavoured cuisine using ingredients sourced from local markets or the restaurant’s own garden.