These extraordinary gardens overlooking the sea, next to the Italian border, are celebrating their 150th anniversary. A true symphony of greenery and citrus, it is home to ferns, bamboo, ancient trees, flowerbeds and artificial ponds.
History of a “valley of tranquillity”
Having resisted the onslaught of real estate developers, the gardens with all sorts of Mediterranean, subtropical and tropical species are now property of the National Museum of Natural History. Sheltered from the winds, in a humid and warm environment, Val Rahmeh is fully enjoying the unique French Riviera microclimate. Its 1,800 species constitute an invaluable heritage.
Over the years, its many owners undertook a number of redevelopments, enlarging the gardens according to their own taste. In its 150 years, Val Rahmeh thus witnessed a succession of nine occupants. Back in 1875, this agricultural estate, property of the Monléon family from Menton, was but an olive grove with a few lemon trees. Henriette Marguerite Françoise de Monléon, aged 72, had the Villa Henriette built, with its wrought iron gate still witnessing its construction date.
In 1921, Rahmeh Théodora Swinburne, a new owner, had the English-style pleasure gardens added. With her South African experience, she enriched the gardens with exotic plants. Later the villa rebuilt in an Italo-Provençal style took the name Val Rahmeh in memory of Rahmeh Théodora who died prematurely in 1924.
In 1957 Val Rahmeh was subsequently owned by a true botanist, a wealthy, whimsical and determined Englishwoman. Miss May Sherwood Campbell purchased new plots to enjoy the sea views, increasing her collection of plants from different continents. Facing the pressure from real estate developers, she was eventually forced to sell the property. She then turned to the French government that acquired the property and entrusted its management to the National Museum of Natural History. Since 1967, the botanical garden of Val Rahmeh (that means “a valley of tranquillity” is classed as a national heritage site open to the public.
The hottest botanical garden in France
Val Rahmeh owes its exceptional lushness and a remarkable diversity of species to unique climatic conditions. Southernmost for the Museum, these botanical gardens are also the hottest. As part of an amphitheatre open to the sea, the Garavan Bay, Val Rahmeh is sheltered from the north winds by the Alpine mountains. It thus enjoys a warmer microclimate in winter, more humid than elsewhere on the coast. Its average annual temperature ranges between 16–17 degrees, with the 70 to 88 % air humidity rate practically all year round. Another one of its particularities: on a clear winter morning, you can see the outlines of Corsica, 180 kilometres away.
This gentle and temperate little paradise is home to all sorts of flourishing species, which the Museum’s scientists consider living beings. Man is thus at the service of nature, carefully nurtured and preserved here. Val Rahmeh is offering us a journey through both hemispheres with its plants both from humid and dry tropical and Mediterranean regions. Medicinal, magical and toxic plants, tropical fruit trees, a collection of aromatic herbs, a citrus orchard and ornamental beds… No words can truly give credit to this extraordinary garden full of “enchanted flowers” where the nature goddess Artemis is in its reign.
As you stroll through its lush spaces, explore all sorts of palm trees, including the native of the Andes growing at a 3000-metre altitude, American coconut palms, giant bamboos, centuries-old olive trees, hydrophobic plants (including the Egyptian papyrus) embracing the ponds, an Arabian coffee tree, a Java cedar, a century-old kumquat, a lychee tree, an impressive citron tree and a Canary Island dragon tree, very rare in mainland France.
Labelled EcoJardin, Val Rahmeh is implementing eco-friendly, water-saving and biodiversity-friendly practices. Its gardeners are the best guarantors of preserving this landscaped heritage. A heritage that since 1967 has welcomed an ever-increasing number of visitors from all walks of life.
Val Rahmeh-Menton Botanical Garden
Avenue St. Jacques, Menton
Open every day except Tuesday
https://www.jardinbotaniquevalrahmehmenton.fr
