The Côte d'Azur France Gardens

Abbey of Lérins Islands

Still owned by the Abbey of Lérins Islands, the island is a haven of peace, cultivated by the monks to produce wine, olive oil and liqueurs.

Covered by discreet undergrowth, the little island is teeming with fragant, typically Mediterranean plants such as thyme, rosemary, rockrose and broom.

The island is populated by Aleppo pines, eucalyotus and cypress, the only species capable of withstanding the sea winds. The monks cultivate lavender, olives and vines in several gardens around the island.

Garden Maria Serena in Menton

At the foot of the cliffs along the Italian border, Villa Maria Serena’s gardens are set in a place known as « Little Africa ». A collection of palms and cycas adorns the gardens, where strelitzia alba, dracena and bohinia are an invitation to travel.

Right from the entrance, the eye is drawn to the long, slender forms that seem to hinge on each other, as the two planes are separated by a steep embankment. Owned by the town of Menton, Maria Serena is still one of the finest examples of the belle époque and pre-war years.