The exotic garden of Eze
Exotic garden
The exotic garden of Eze offers a magical tour through a Mediterranean and subtropical vegetation, with the beautiful canva of the Mediterranean Sea.
To the south, the exotic garden and its collection of succulents
The exotic garden of Eze features 3 types of vegetation : exotic, Mediterranean and subtropical, divided into 3 gardens according to soil’s type and exposure.
The first part to emerge was the exotic garden. A few years after the end of the World War II in 1949, André Gianton, the mayor of Eze, decided to create a botanical garden in the ruins of an ancient medieval fortress as a sign of renewal .
Situated at the top of the village at 1300 ft above sea level, the project was assisted by Jean Gastaud, also creator of the Exotic Garden of Monaco.
Work began on the south-facing slope. Taking advantage of the southern exposure, the good drainage provided by the slope, and the fact that this plot is protected from the cold winds by the Revère plateau, the gardener recommended planting a group of succulents from the desert regions (North America, South Africa and Mexico). Indeed, succulents are adapted to aridity and extreme heat thanks to the fleshy parts of their leaves and their stems, in which they store water. This is how Cactaceae (cacti), Crassulaceae (crassulas), Euphorbiaceae (euphorbias), Agavaceae (agaves), Aizoaceae (lithops) and Liliaceae (aloes) took place in what will become the exotic garden of Eze. Nowadays, The garden’s collection is exceptional.
Indeed, the hot, dry conditions favoured the development of certain plants to a level rarely seen on the French Riviera.
Two other gardens were subsequently created.
To the north, the Mediterranean garden, an alliance of native and exotic species.
The north-facing slope, which is essentially shadier and wetter, lends itself to the planting of local
species such as myrtle, rockrose, euphorbia and arbutus. To bring a touch of exoticism, tree ferns
from New Zealand, agapanthus from South Africa and hostas from China combined with the Mediterranean vegetation.
The Mediterranean garden that visitors are now strolling through is the result of a collaboration between Jean Mus & compagnie, a Firm renowned for its expertise in Mediterranean garden design, and the municipal garden services. After 6 months of work, the northern part of the garden, which had been closed for more than a decade, was reopened in 2014.
Based on drawings by Bruno Ricci, the main collaborator of Jean Mus, 2.500m2 of the northern plot underwent a thorough overhaul : excavation work, creation of staircases, walkways, courtyards and
plant pockets, addition of fake rocks, new low-energy lighting, integration of a watering system, and addition of more than 100 tons of soil and 1,200 plants.
Henceforth, visitors can enjoy moments of relaxation in the caves, cooled by the flow of water, and the superb spectacle of the Mediterranean garden which majestically covers the northern part of the exotic garden.
Full west, discovering subtropical plants
The subtropical garden occupies the western part of the garden. The term « subtropical » refers to areas of the globe adjacent to the tropics with a temperate climate, long, hot, rainy summers and mild winters. Subtropical plants are therefore particularly hardy, able to withstand extreme heat and periods of drought, as well as heavy rain and temperatures sometimes approaching 0°C. They are imported from the southern part of United States, Spain, Portugal, the northern and southern points of Africa, southern Australia, the Middle East, certains parts of South America and south-east Asia.
The Mediterranean climate, which is also temperate, is favourable for the acclimatization of subtropical plants.
The subtropical garden of Eze contains a diverse collection of plants, including cycas, dicksonias, cyperus, gunneras and alocasia. A pergola, a misting system and a waterfall bring a little freshness.
The western part of the exotic garden offers to the visitors an unrivalled view of the Mediterranean landscapes. On a clear day, you can even see Saint-Tropez.
THE EXOTIC GARDEN OF EZE
Rue du Château
06360 Eze
Phone : +33 4.93.41.10.30
