Jardin Serre de la Madone

Jardin Serre de la Madone is a seven-hectare botanical garden in Menton arranged on multiple terraced levels connected by stone paths and decorated with classical statues and fountains. The property holds a collection of Mediterranean and exotic plant species sustained by an irrigation system with water cisterns built into the garden structure.

Lawrence Johnston, an American-born British soldier, created this garden starting in 1924 by transforming agricultural terraces in the Gorbio valley near Menton. His dedication turned these farming lands into one of the region's most important botanical collections over the decades.

The garden shows a collector's passion through its distinct zones, where plants from distant lands grow side by side in arranged sections. Visitors can see how the terraced levels function like separate rooms, each displaying botanical specimens that were gathered from travels across two continents.

The site can be explored on foot, with paths between levels accessible either as a self-guided walk or with guided tours. The sloped terrain and uneven surfaces require good mobility, so visitors should wear comfortable shoes and allow adequate time to move through the different areas.

The garden holds rare Himalayan oak trees and other exotic species that thrive in Menton's particular microclimate, despite needing very different conditions in their native habitats. This unusual combination allows visitors to see plants that would normally grow in completely separate regions of the world.