Villa Maria Serena, Aristocratic villa in Menton, France
Villa Maria Serena is an aristocratic residence in Menton on the French coast near the Italian border, positioned on a cliff overlooking the landscape. A metal footbridge spans across railway tracks to connect two sections of the property.
Construction began in 1885 for French Ambassador Louis-Alexandre Foucher de Careil, who served in Austria-Hungary. A banker named Hans Henry Konig later purchased the property, shifting its ownership and purpose.
The building serves as Menton's honorary town hall today, welcoming official guests for ceremonial occasions. It has become a symbol of the town's formal representation.
The gardens are accessible through guided visits held on specific weekdays. It is recommended to contact Menton's tourist office in advance to confirm availability and arrange your visit.
The garden houses rare tropical plants that flourish in this coastal climate where temperatures rarely dip below five degrees. This botanical variety makes the site a surprising green refuge along the rugged Mediterranean coast.
Location: Menton
GPS coordinates: 43.78527,7.52816
Latest update: December 6, 2025 19:06
Menton occupies a notable position on the French Riviera, a few kilometers from the Italian border, where the Maritime Alps descend into the Mediterranean Sea. This unique geographical location has shaped a town with a dual character, where French and Italian architectural influences blend naturally. Visitors can explore botanical gardens like Val Rahmeh and Serre de la Madone, religious sites such as the Basilica of Saint Michael Archangel and the Chapel of the White Penitents, as well as museums dedicated to art and local history. The waterfront is organized around the Menton Garavan Port, beaches, and the Promenade du Soleil which runs along the coast. Cultural heritage can be found particularly at the Jean Cocteau Museum Collection Séverin Wunderman, housed in a modern building by the water, and at the Palais Carnolès, a former summer residence of Monaco’s princes transformed into an art museum. The Halles Market offers regional products and local specialties each morning, while the Old Castle Cemetery perched on the heights provides an expansive view of the bay and reflects the city’s history through its 19th-century funerary monuments.
Balzi Rossi
632 m
Hanbury botanical gardens
2.1 km
Basilique Saint-Michel-Archange
1.9 km
Marché Couvert
2.1 km
Jardin botanique exotique de Menton
1.4 km
Les Colombières
957 m
Bastion Museum
2 km
Fontana Rosa
1.2 km
Avant-poste de Pont-Saint-Louis
149 m
Grotte du Cavillon
551 m
Marché couvert de Menton
2 km
Russian chapel in the cimetière du Vieux-Château
2 km
Chapelle de l'Immaculée-Conception de Menton
2 km
Le Clos du Peyronnet
398 m
Hôtel d'Adhémar de Lantagnac
2.1 km
Chapelle Saint-Jacques de Menton
1.3 km
Villa Les Mouettes
2.1 km
Hôtel Pretti, Menton
1.9 km
Museo preistorico dei Balzi Rossi
515 m
Parc Départemental du Pian
1.2 km
Église Saint-Laurent de Menton
641 m
Chapelle des Pénitents Noirs
2.1 km
Promenade du Soleil
2 km
Domaine des Colombières
942 m
Plage des Sablettes
1.8 km
Domaine des Colombières
953 m
Scenic viewpoint
377 m
Chapelle Sainte-Anne de Garavan
1.6 kmReviews
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