Looking for a breathtaking way to discover the French Riviera? How about immersing yourself in a lush, natural world with a unique stay on the Côte d'Azur? The French Riviera isn't just about beaches, glitz, and stunning scenery. It's also a whole range of... botanical gardens most of which are classified as " Remarkable garden ». EDEN CAB offers you a one-week road trip to discover the most beautiful floral gems of the region.

Day 1: The Côte d'Azur gardens in Menton take center stage

French capital of lemons, Menton It has other wonders to offer, notably its superb gardens, which are worth a visit in themselves. Begin your botanical road trip in this sunny city and let yourself be dazzled by these three gardens.

Jardin Serre de la Madone

Nestled in the hills above Menton, the garden said Madonna Greenhouse is a horticultural masterpiece that tells the story of an irrepressible passion. Its creator was Lawrence Johnston (1871-1958), an American citizen who became a British officer, who had already made his mark on landscape design with the creation of the famous Hidcote Manor garden in England. After serving in the First World War, Johnston was looking for a place to acclimatize the warm-climate species that he couldn't introduce to the Cotswolds. In 1924, he was charmed by the microclimate of the French Riviera and the unobstructed view over the Gorbio valley and decided to acquire a series of plots of land planted with lemon and olive trees.

Between 1927 and 1931, this enthusiast undertook extensive travels, notably in South Africa, China and America, to bring back rare and exotic plants. The estate, extending over nearly six hectares between 51 and 150 meters in altitude, is organized into ingenious terraces. He even built twelve cisterns to ensure a vital water reserve of 1 m³. The villa is built at an altitude of 000 meters and elegantly separates the forested area from the former agricultural zone. Listed Monument in 1990, the estate was acquired in 1999 by the Conservatoire de l'espace littoral et des rivages lacustres.

Address: 74 route du Val de Gorbio, 06500 Menton

Val Rahmeh Botanical Garden

Hidden away at the end of a discreet cul-de-sac in the Menton Garavan district is the magnificent Jardin Botanique Val Rahmeh. We're talking about a veritable gateway to the tropics, but its story begins with an act of love. In 1922, Lord Percy Radcliffe, former governor of the island of Malta, bought this villa. Three years later, he created an exotic garden there, naming it after his wife, who was of Indian origin: Rameh. The passion for botany was then perpetuated by Miss Campbell, a botanist from the 1950s who worshipped daturas.

Today, the garden is in the hands of National Museum of Natural History. It is no longer just a pleasure garden, but a conservatory of plant biodiversity. In 1970, it boasted 700 species. Today, 1 species coexist. You'll find everything there: Mediterranean classics like olive trees and some thirty species of citrus. But the real treasure lies in its subtropical and tropical specimens, often spectacular. This is the case with the Sophora toromino, this mythical tree of Easter Island.

The advantage of this site is that It is open every day except Tuesday. This makes organizing your road trip easier.

Address: Avenue Saint-Jacques, 06500 Menton

Maria Serena

Conclude your botanical stay in Menton with an immersion in an exceptional garden, the Maria Serena, Often nicknamed "Little Africa," it nestles at the foot of the cliffs, right on the Italian border. The secret to its lushness lies in its microclimate, the most temperate in all of France. The cliffs protect it from frost, meaning the temperature never drops below 5°C.

This garden was created in 1886 for the Foucher de Careil family and the villa was designed by the famous architect charles garnier. Today, it belongs to the city of Menton, bequeathed by the British banker Henry Konig in 1947. It serves as a majestic setting for receptions of illustrious guests such as Elisabeth of Bavaria or President René Coty.

But the highlight of the show remains the vegetation. Visitors discover a profusion of tropical and subtropical plants. An incredible collection of palm trees and cycads adorns the terraces. The contrast is striking: the exotic shapes of the strelitzia alba and dracaena stand out against the intense blue of the sea. Look for the extremely rare Canary Islands dragon tree or strelitzia augusta from South Africa which rises to over 12 meters. The garden is also renowned for its winding canal filled with aquatic plants.

Address: 21 Promenade Reine-Astrid, 06500 Menton

Day 2: Visit to the Exotic Garden of Monaco

The day after your stay in Menton, head towards Monaco. For this city tour, you can use the services ofEDEN CAB who puts at your service a fleet of limousines or vans with private chauffeure. You can freely organize your itineraries to discover the beauty of the French Riviera thanks to a multi-day availability.

Settle into Monaco's finest hotels before exploring the Exotic Garden. Among the Principality's many gems is the Harbor Palace which is located a short distance from the Yacht Club and the Monaco Grand Prix circuit. The spacious and welcoming suites overlook Port Hercule. If you enjoy fine dining, choose the Hotel Métropole Monte-Carlo two of its three restaurants have Michelin stars. This establishment exudes luxury with its chandeliers, marble floors and superb floral arrangements.

Now that you're settled into your hotel, it's time to discover Monaco's beauty by heading straight to its most famous garden, perched above the Principality. Inaugurated in 1933 at the behest of Prince Albert I, it is world-renowned as the "largest succulent rock garden in the world." This municipal garden is entirely dedicated to succulent plants, including some 1,000 different species originating from semi-arid regions around the globe. Many of these plants are over a century old and come from the original collection of Augustin Gastaud, giving the site a remarkable history.

The site, which covers a developed area of ​​approximately 15,000 m², expanded from the 1950s onwards with the addition of greenhouses and a 5,000 m² botanical center, essential for renewing the collections. In addition to the magnificent avenues lined with gigantic specimens, the visit includes access to the Observatory Cave and the Museum of Prehistoric Anthropology.

Address: 62, Boulevard du Jardin Exotique, MC 98000 Monaco

Day 3: A stop at the Exotic Garden of Eze

After Monaco, your driver EDEN CAB can take you directly to Eze. What can you expect? The beauty of a garden suspended between sky and earth. The Exotic Garden of Eze It's a truly unique spot on the French Riviera. Built on the ruins of an ancient medieval fortress, it rises 429 meters above the Mediterranean. This altitude offers a breathtaking panorama, one of the most incredible on the entire Riviera. From here, you can glimpse the Esterel mountains and the Gulf of Saint-Tropez. It's the perfect place for a photo.

In terms of vegetation, the garden is cleverly laid out. Its southern section showcases an impressive collection of succulents and xerophytes, plants adapted to arid climates from all corners of the world. Conversely, the northern section is cooler, dedicated to Mediterranean plants and species from humid regions, and enhanced by grottoes and a waterfall. The entire garden is designed with the visitor in mind, offering themed and artistic trails to choose from according to individual tastes. This perfect blend of history, botany, and breathtaking views has earned the Èze garden the award... regional special prize for floral displays and the prestigious label Remarkable Garden. The visit takes one hour. Click here for more information.

Address: 20 Rue du Château, 06360 Èze

Day 4: A stopover in Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat in the 9 gardens of the Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild

After Eze, which, apart from its exotic garden, offers other attractions such as the Church of Our Lady of the Assumption or the Fragonard Perfumery, the most spectacular discovery is made at the Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild, in Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat. Among the many historic villas of the French Riviera, This palace is undoubtedly the most famous.

It imitates the splendors of the Renaissance. It was built between 1905 and 1912 by the Baroness Béatrice Ephrussi de Rothschild (1864-1934) on a promontory of Cap Ferrat. The villa superbly overlooks the harbor of Villefranche and the bay of Beaulieu.

This real Palazzo It is the Baroness's architectural dream: a blend of Italian influences, including Lombard, Tuscan, and Venetian styles, with a touch of Spain. Today, the interior is no less impressive. It houses a vast and rich collection of works of art, 18th-century furniture, and fine porcelain from Sèvres and Vincennes.

But it's the exterior that captivates. The villa is surrounded by nine thematic gardens in very different styles. Discover the formal French garden, where a water and music show takes place every twenty minutes. A delight for the senses! You'll also find more exuberant gardens like the Spanish garden with its profusion of flowers, or the Florentine garden. The lapidary garden, full of Gothic ruins and gargoyles, contrasts with the peaceful Japanese garden, with its streams hidden beneath bamboo. The journey continues with the exotic garden, populated with cacti, palm trees, and banana trees, and ends with the familiar Provençal garden, saturated with the scent of lavender and mimosa. And of course, a magnificent rose garden, filling the air with its fragrance.

Address: 1 Av. Ephrussi de Rothschild, 06230 Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat

Day 5: Nature break at Nice

After exploring the extremes of the Riviera, from Menton to Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat, Nice offers you a welcome nature break.

Garden of the Cimiez Monastery

Gardens of the Cimiez Monastery are a true haven of peace, despite being close to the bustling city center of NiceTheir story begins in 1546, when the Franciscan Observants settled on this hill, already a Roman capital. The monks established a 9,550 m² grid garden, following the strict rules of Albertus Magnus for monastic gardens. A fascinating fact: the layout of this vegetable garden and orchard has apparently remained unchanged since its founding, making it one of the oldest in the region. Nice, if not the oldest. It is here, in this original vegetable garden, that the Franciscan Fathers are even said to have invented the famous mesclun salad by mixing various seeds.

After being taken over and renovated by the municipality in the 1920s, the garden now offers a vast esplanade. It is beautifully structured by a wide path running alongside a superb pergola of climbing roses. Citrus trees, particularly orange, lemon, and mandarin trees, add a touch of color and fragrance along the paths, alongside typically Mediterranean species such as olive and cypress trees. Below, a smaller, more intimate terrace, adorned with a fountain and pools, opens up to reveal a exceptional panorama over the Paillon valley and in the distance, the sea.

Address: Place du monastère de Cimiez, 06000 Nice

Phoenix Park, one of the Côte d'Azur's labeled gardens

A green oasis at the southwest entrance to Nice, Phoenix Park covers seven hectares and attracts approximately each year 350 000 visitors in search of recreational, educational, and pure relaxation. It is also designated a "Remarkable Garden." This is no coincidence: the park is a haven of biodiversity that shelters more than 2 species of plants in a carefully landscaped Mediterranean setting. The flora is organized into about twenty themed gardens which represent the richness of the Mediterranean, aromatic plants, succulents and tropical or subtropical species.

The heart of the park is undoubtedly its impressive pyramidal greenhouse, affectionately nicknamed the "Green Diamond". It is one of the tallest in Europe. Covering 7 m² and reaching a height of 000 meters, this gigantic structure recreates six distinct tropical and subtropical climates, allowing the flourishing of a forest of tree ferns, a vast collection of orchids, as well as fascinating places like the Louisiana garden (with its spectacled caimans) and the Thai garden.

Address: 405 Promenade des Anglais, 06200 Nice

Day 6: A floral interlude in one of the Côte d'Azur gardens: the Thuret nature reserve in Antibes

From Fort Carré to Cap d'Antibes, from the Picasso Museum to the Museum of Archaeology, Antibes. There is no shortage of points of interest. But for a green break, don't miss a visit to the Villa Thuret, a true botanical landmark of the French Riviera.

It is home to unusual specimens such as this large tree, a eucalyptus. dorrigoensis The 36-meter-high tower is visible from the sea. This garden is primarily a place of science. It was founded in 1857 by the botanist and algologist Gustave Thuret as an acclimatization garden. Today it is managed by INRAE, which studies the cultivation and growth of new plants there. It is the future of botany.

The garden of the Villa Thuret is renowned for its collection of nearly a thousand exotic woody species. The garden didn't wait for modern labels to be acclaimed: George Sand wrote in 1868 that it was " the most beautiful garden she had ever seen in her life Today, it is officially classified “Remarkable Garden” Since 2007. Among the most impressive specimens are two "twin" Chilean coconut palms whose trunks reach 3,5 meters in circumference. Even more spectacular is a grove of 27 umbrella pines. These trees carefully avoid intertwining their branches, respecting the fascinating "phenomenon of tree shyness" for over 150 years.

Source : Le Figaro

Address: 90 Chemin Gustave Raymond, 06160 Antibes

Day 7: A treasure to visit at the Domaine du Rayol in Rayol-Canadel-sur-Mer

Le Domain of Rayol, labeled “Remarkable Garden” and “20th Century Heritage”, is a vast landscaped garden located on the Corniche des Maures in Rayol-Canadel-sur-Mer (Var), facing the Hyères islands.

The history of the estate begins in the years 1910 when the Parisian banker Alfred-Théodore Courmes and his wife Thérèse acquired 40 hectares of forest in the Figuier valley. They commissioned the construction of their first residence, Farm, to the architect Guillaume Tronchet, then in 1912, the Hôtel de la Mer (neoclassical style) and in 1925, the villa Rayolet (Art Deco style, listed as a Historical Monument). The couple created pleasure gardens around a monumental pergola, as well as a terraced vegetable garden and orchard. In 1940, Henry Potez bought the property and significantly enlarged the gardens.

En 1989, the Domaine du Rayol is acquired by the Conservatoire de l'espace littoral et des rivages lacustres in order to preserve this natural site on the Var coast. Today, the Domaine extends over 20 hectares : protected natural area. It comprises 13 hectares of scrubland and 7 hectares of themed gardens. Its botanical concept is unique: it features essences derived from all areas of the global Mediterranean biome, which can be visited all year round.

Address: Avenue Jacques Chirac, 83820 Rayol-Canadel-Sur-Mer

To organize your dream road trip to the most beautiful gardens on the French Riviera, contact EDEN CAB and quickly book your premium vehicle with driver.