Before it was a resort, the Riviera was a garden: the English and the Russians planted their winter paradises here, botanists acclimatised the palms and the cacti, and the lemon groves of Menton climbed the hills in terraces. The great public gardens, the Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild on Cap-Ferrat, the Serre de la Madone in Menton, the exotic garden of Èze, are on my regular days. Beyond them are the gardens that open only on request.
With my partners, owners, gardeners and the associations that care for these places, I arrange visits that are not on any list: a garden on Cap-Ferrat walked with its head gardener, a citrus collection in Menton, a modern garden in the hills designed by a known landscape architect. The day is built around the season, because a garden has a right month.
How I arrange it
Cap-Ferrat and Beaulieu
The gardens of the belle-époque villas, public and private, and the coastal paths between them.
Menton
The town of gardens: the Serre de la Madone, the Val Rahmeh botanical garden, and private citrus gardens opened by their owners.
The hills
Gardens of olive trees, cypresses and water above the coast, from Vence to Grasse, in the Provençal and Italian manner.
Good to know
- Price on request: private openings are arranged with the owners, who may ask a fee for the visit or for their association; my guiding day is €750 per group, €450 for a half day.
- Subject to the owners' availability and the season; spring and autumn are the right months, July and August the wrong ones.
- Some gardens receive small parties only, usually up to six guests.
- Public gardens' entrance fees are paid on site.
Frequently asked questions
Which season is best for the gardens?
April to June for the roses, the irises and the first citrus blossom; October and November for the light, the figs and the second flowering. In summer most gardens are closed or burnt.
Can we meet the gardeners?
Often, yes; that is what makes a private visit. The head gardener or the owner walks with us when they are available, and I translate when needed.
Compose your days
Two lines are enough to start: your dates, your party, and the experiences that tempt you.