Jardin botanique exotique de Menton, Botanical garden in Menton, France
The garden extends over 11,000 square meters with terraced plots surrounding an Italian-Provençal villa with ochre walls near the Mediterranean Sea.
Lord Percy Radcliffe, former governor of Malta, acquired the estate in 1905 and expanded it by adding adjacent farmland to create this botanical collection.
The garden maintains 1,500 plant species from Mediterranean, tropical, and subtropical regions, including the last specimens of Sophora toromiro from Easter Island.
Visitors can access the garden daily except Tuesdays, with opening hours from 9:30 to 18:00 in summer and 9:30 to 17:00 in winter.
The garden benefits from a specific microclimate where temperatures rarely fall below 5°C, enabling the growth of rare tropical species and 400-year-old olive trees.
Location: Menton
Inception: 1967
Founders: Percy Radcliffe
Operator: Muséum national d'histoire naturelle
Website: https://menton.fr/Jardin-du-Val-Rahmeh.html
GPS coordinates: 43.78470,7.51120
Latest update: June 23, 2025 09:45
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.
Basilique Saint-Michel-Archange
920 m
Jean Cocteau Museum
1.2 km
Marché Couvert
1.1 km
Les Colombières
529 m
Bastion Museum
1.1 km
Fontana Rosa
216 m
Villa Tempe a paia
1.2 km
Marché couvert de Menton
1.1 km
Russian chapel in the cimetière du Vieux-Château
856 m
Chapelle de l'Immaculée-Conception de Menton
918 m
Temple de l'église protestante unie de France de Menton
1.2 km
Le Clos du Peyronnet
971 m
Hôtel d'Adhémar de Lantagnac
1.1 km
Chapelle Saint-Jacques de Menton
228 m
Villa Les Mouettes
1 km
Hôtel Pretti, Menton
867 m
Immeuble Glena
1.1 km
Parc Départemental du Pian
188 m
Plage Hawaï
1.1 km
Musée de préhistoire régionale
1.1 km
Église Saint-Laurent de Menton
726 m
Chapelle des Pénitents Noirs
1.1 km
Promenade du Soleil
1.1 km
Domaine des Colombières
563 m
Musée de préhistoire Stanislas Bonfils
1.1 km
Plage des Sablettes
731 m
Domaine des Colombières
539 m
Immeuble de la rue de la Marne
1.1 kmReviews
Visited this place? Tap the stars to rate it and share your experience / photos with the community! Try now! You can cancel it anytime.
Discover hidden gems everywhere you go!
From secret cafés to breathtaking viewpoints, skip the crowded tourist spots and find places that match your style. Our app makes it easy with voice search, smart filtering, route optimization, and insider tips from travelers worldwide. Download now for the complete mobile experience.
A unique approach to discovering new places❞
— Le Figaro
All the places worth exploring❞
— France Info
A tailor-made excursion in just a few clicks❞
— 20 Minutes