With Beyond's Gardens of Provence we are providing a list of the fabulous botanical and aromatic gardens in Provence and the South of France. The list isn't complete, of course, but we're adding to it as we discover new places.
Please use the "price" and "hours" details as a guide only.
Department 04 - Alpes-de-Haute-Provence
Manosque (04100)
Maison de la Biodiveersité
Location: Chemin de la Thomassine
(Northwest of town center)
Verger conservatoire e 290 variétés fruitières traditionnelles; vegetable gardens; walking paths to discover Mediterranean forests; sundial (cadran solaire); fish basin
Open: July-Sept: Wed-Sun; 10h30-17h00; 1-hr guided tours 11h-15h
Oct-June: Wed only
Entry: 10 F
Tel: 0492 877 440; Fax: 0492 877 440
Prieuré de Salagon (04)
Ethno-botanical gardens
The Conservatoire du Patrimoine Ethnologique de Haute-Provence, at the Prieuré de Salagon, is an ethnological museum, with an ethno-botanical garden, Prieuré de Salagon.
Location: on the plains just south of Mane, on a 2000-year-old Gallo-Roman site.
Open: Apr-June 14h-18h; July-Sept 10h-12h, 14h-19h; Oct-11 Nov, weekends and holidays 14h-18h; 12 Nov-31 Mar Sunday, holidays 14h-18h.
Tel: 0492 751 993; Fax: 0492 752 514
Department 06 - Alpes-Maritimes
Antibes Juan-les-Pins (06600)
INRA Botanical Garden
Jardin Botanique de la Villa Thuret
The botanical garden of the Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique is a 3.5 hectare park open to the public.
Location: Cap d'Antibes
41 boulevard du Cap
Open: Mon-Fri, 8h00-18h00 summer; 8h30-17h30 winter
; Closed: Closed: Holidays, weekends
Entry: Free for individuals; charge for groups
Tel: 0493 678 866; Fax: j0493 678 888
Web: jardin-thuret.antibes.inra.fr/
Eze (06360)
Fort Revère Botanical Area
A large area on along the ridge is layed out as a botanical area, with Mediterranean plants presented with informative panels. It's a lovely walk through the area even if you aren't particularly interested in the plants. From end Aug to beginning Nov, migratory-bird-watching facilities are provided here for the public.
Location: on the mountain ridge above the Col de Eze, with a fabulous view of the Mediterranean coast.
Entry: Free
Menton Gardens (06)
Le Jardin d'Agrumes du Palais Carnoles
Also a museum.
Location: 3 Ave de la Madone.
Contains the largest collection of citrus trees in Europe, including orange, lemon, clementine, grapefruit, mandarin, and kumquat. Decorated with contemporary sculptures since 1994. Located in the old summer residence of the Princes of Monaco
Open: daily, 10h-12h, 14h-18h
; Closed: Closed: Tue and holidays
Entry: free. Guided visit 5 euros.
Jardin des Colombières
Private - visits possible via Office de Tourisme or Service du Patrimoine.
Location: Route des Colombières; East of town, north of Garavan
An estate overlooking the Mediterranean, with small picturesque buildings, cypress and olive trees, local flora.
Fontana Rosa
Location: Ave Blasco Ibanez
Created in the 20's by Blasco Ibanez, Fontana Rosa was a garden of Spanish style ceramics dedicated to the memory of the Grand Writers. It is still listed as "closed for renovation", but from our peeks through the windows, it's just a ruin at the end of its day.
Open: Never
; Closed: Closed: Always
Hanbury Botanic Gardens
Location: 43, C.so Montecarlo - La Mortola
18039 Ventimiglia - Italy
; 7 km east of Menton on the Capo Mortola
Begun in 1867 by Sir Thomas Hanbury, holidaying on the Côte d'Azur. The botanical gardens were created with the help of different expert botanists and pharmacologists, with an early emphasis on pharmaceutical plants.
Includes the Japanese Garden, the Australian Forest, succulent plants, the Garden of Perfumes, the collection of Roses. The entire ensemble is kept in a natural environment that encourages the complete biological cycle.
Le Jardin de Maria Serena
Guided visits only, by rendez-vous.
Location: Promenade Reine Astrid; Close to the Italian border
Tropical and subtropical plants, including a rare dradon tgree from the Canary Islands, and a large collection of palm trees and cycas.
Entry: 5 euros
Le Parc du Pian
Location: Bvd de Garavan.; Walk out the coast road east to Ave St Jacques, left up the hill - on the right.
A large open park with over 500 ancient olive trees, some over 1000 year old, arranged in a series of terraces, with a view of the sea through the trees. The Parc du Pian is a public garden traditionally used for Sunday strolls by the people of Menton; a good place for kids' parties and picnicking, with a nearby mini-golf.
Open: daily
Entry: free
La Serre de la madone
Guided visits only.
Location: 74 route de Gorbio.; Northwest of town
Designed between 1919 and 1939 by Major Lawrence Johnston, designer of the English garden of Hidcote Manor. Contains an exceptional botanical collection, some now the only remaining species in the world. Also a remarkable example of landscape architecture, with ponds and fountains to help create the calm atmosphere. Classified in 1990 as an historical monument.
Open: • Botanical visit: 15h00 daily except Mon by a gardner.
•Historical visit: 20 Feb - 30 Apr, Fridays 9h30; 1 May - 31 Oct, daily except Mon, 9h30.
• Forest Flora: by reservation only, 22 Feb, 21 Mar, 11 Apr, 9h00-12h00.
Entry: 8 euros
Square des Etats Unis
Location: 29 Ave Carnot
A contemporary garden, with botanical descriptions of the trees and leaves. It's also a place of Sunday strolls and shady resting.
Open: daily
Entry: free
Le Jardin botanique exotique du Val Rahmeh
Location: Ave St Jacques; Walk out the coast road east to Ave St Jacques, left up the hill - on the left.
Specialized in the Solanaceae and Labiatae, with many tropical and subtropical plants and edible plants (kiwis, avocados, bananas, etc.).
Open: Daily. Apr-Sept 10h-12h30, 15h-18h; Oct-Mar 10h-12h30, 14h-17h.
; Closed: Closed: Tuesdays
Entry: 4 euros
Nice (06000)
Botanical Garden
Location: 78 Ave de la Corniche Fleurie
This garden is especially for Mediterranean plants, but inlcudes a collection of tropical plants. This allows for year-round visiting, since Mediterranean plants flower usually in late winter.
The garden was created in 1983, and opened to the public in 1991.
Open: May-Sept 9h00-12h00; 13h00-17h45
Oct-Apr 9h00-12h00; 13h00-16h45
June-Aug 11h00-19h00
; Closed: Closed: Monday
Entry: Free
Tel: 0493 710 744; Fax: 0493 781 182
Email: bota.jbvn@nice-coteazur.org
Monastery Garden
Location: Place du Monastère de Cimiez
This is a lovely area of gardens and pergolas, beautiful flowers, fruit trees and a dense little wooded area. It's popular, but has quiet sections and is peaceful as well as beautiful. In addition to the flora, we especially like the ancient sundial (cadran solaire) on the end of the monastery facing the gardens.
Phoenix - Parc Floral de Nice
Location: 405 Promendade des Anglais (across from the airport)
This is a very nice floral park, with water, lawns, thousands of flowers, an aviary and exotic butterflies. Most of the park is in the open, but the huge "green diamond" is the largest greenhouse in Europe, with different tropical climates, tropical forests and plants, birds and free-flying butterflies. The butterflies are stocked mid-April, so an off-season visit would miss them.
Open: 15 Mar-14 Oct 9h-19h; 15 Oct-14 Mar 9h-17h
Entry: 40 F; under 6, free
Tel: 0493 180 333; Fax: 0493 180 101
Saint Jean-Cap-Ferrat (06230)
Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild
Location: Saint Jean-Cap-Ferrat peninsula northern end (entrance).
The mansion of the Baronness Béatrice Ephrussi de Rothschild (or Villa Ile de France has seven gardens designed in different styles: French Traditional, Florentine, Spanish, Exotic, Lapidary, Japanese, Provencal. Also a fabulous view of the coast, east and west. Also a library, shop, and tea room.
Open: Every day, year-round. 15 Feb-1 Nov: 10h-18h (19h July-Aug); 2 Nov-5 Feb: weekends and school holidays, 10h-18h.
Tel: 0493 014 590
Sainte Agnès (06500)
Jardin Médiéval
Location:
A rock garden and historical tour, at the base of the chateau ramparts.
Department 83 - Var
Figanières (83830)
Garden of Scents
Jardin des Senteurs
A walled garden with aromatic plants; includes an "Atelier de Santonnier" (Santon
workshop).
Location: At the village
Open: not indicated
Hyères (83400)
Park St Bernard
A large, terraced garden of lush plants and wildflowers, with a view down across the roofs of the old town to the sea.
Location: In the old town go up the Rue Saint Esprit to where it turns and becomes Rue Barbacane. Facing the Porte Barruc archway, follow the steps to up to the right through the small gate.
Open: 08h00 - evening
Entry: Free
Porquerolles Island (83400)
Botnanical Plantations
Near Hyeres, has botanical plantations of trees and shrubs along with many wildflowers. - see Beyond's Porquerolles Island.
Location:
La Roquebrussanne (83136)
Jardin de Elie Alexis
Location:
A nice little garden with cactus.
Sainte Maxime (83120)
Botanical Gardens of Ste Maxime
Jardin Botanique de Ste Maxime
Also called "Parc Botanique des Myrtes"
Location: 1 km southwest of Ste Maxime center, beside the N98, opposite the beach just past "Le Croissette" plage.
This large, shady botanical park is very quiet, although just a few steps across from the busy and noisy beaches. Informational plaques are posted around the park for the regional trees and bushes, making a nice walk to explore them. There are log park benches for resting, a kiddie's playground area, and space for picnicking.
Open: 8h00 - 17h00
Entry: Free
Department 98 - Monaco
Monaco (98000 (Monaco))
Jardin Exotique de Monaco
Also a Museum of Antrhopology
Location:
On a rocky site above the Principality. With a large collection of exotic plants, 100-year-old cacti from South America, and 10-meter high euphorbes candélabres from Africa.
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