Le Clos du Peyronnet, Private garden in Garavan district, Menton, France.
Le Clos du Peyronnet is a private garden in the Garavan district organized around five linked terraces connected by water features. The layout guides visitors downward through planted slopes, with the Mediterranean forming a visual endpoint at the lowest point.
The Waterfield family purchased the property in 1912 and began converting the original olive grove into a designed garden. The transformation unfolded gradually across multiple generations, with each family member adding refinements to the overall scheme.
The garden holds a significant collection of South African bulb plants gathered by William Waterfield, with specimens from over 300 species spread across the terraces. These plants define the visual character and rhythms of the space throughout the seasons.
Entry requires advance booking arranged through the local heritage office. Wear comfortable shoes since the route descends through multiple levels with steps, and the garden is best explored at an unhurried pace.
The garden employs a sequence of reflecting pools that create an optical effect, making the Mediterranean appear as the final basin of the garden itself. This sophisticated perspective technique dissolves the boundary between cultivated space and the natural seascape beyond.
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