European Heritage Days 2026 in Menton: Serre de la Madone Opens Its Doors to a Heritage in Need of Protection

MENTON — As part of the European Heritage Days 2026, the Jardin Serre de la Madone in Menton will exceptionally open its doors to the public on Saturday, September 19 and Sunday, September 20. Over the two days, the historic garden will host a series of free guided tours dedicated to the theme “Patrimoine en péril : raviver, résister, réimaginer”, inviting visitors to discover not only the history of the site but also the challenges involved in preserving it today.

The eight tours scheduled for the weekend offer an opportunity to explore one of the most remarkable historic gardens on the French Riviera and to understand the work required to protect a heritage site where botany, landscape design, architecture and history come together.

Serre de la Madone, a unique historic garden on the French Riviera

The history of Serre de la Madone is closely associated with Lawrence Johnston, the British botanist and landscape designer who began creating the Menton garden in 1924, after also designing the famous Hidcote Manor Garden in England.

The result is a remarkable landscape featuring terraces, water basins, fountains, greenhouses, pergolas and carefully designed perspectives, where botanical species from different parts of the world coexist with the garden’s architectural features.

The richness of its plant collections and its distinctive landscape design have made Serre de la Madone one of the most important examples of garden art on the French Riviera.

The site has been protected as a Monument historique since 1990 and has also been awarded the Jardin remarquable designation, recognising its historical, botanical and landscape value.

A living heritage that needs protection

The theme of the 2026 European Heritage Days is particularly relevant to the current situation at Serre de la Madone. Like any living heritage site, the garden must contend with the passage of time, deteriorating structures and the impact of climate change.

Key challenges include the deterioration of some terraces, ageing hydraulic infrastructure, the restoration of historic greenhouses and the need to improve the safety of visitor paths.

At the same time, the management of the botanical collections must adapt to changing climatic conditions while preserving the original identity of Lawrence Johnston’s vision.

A major restoration programme

For several years, the Association pour la Sauvegarde des Jardins d’Exception du Mentonnais (ASJEM) has been working with the Conservatoire du littoral, owner of the site, the City of Menton and its partners on an extensive restoration and conservation programme.

The objective is to preserve the identity of Serre de la Madone while addressing contemporary requirements concerning safety, accessibility, biodiversity and visitor facilities.

The project focuses on four main priorities: securing the site, restoring historic structures, protecting botanical collections and ensuring that the heritage can be passed on to future generations.

The work includes stabilising slopes and terraces, improving pathways, restoring greenhouses, water basins and fountains, and rehabilitating the historic water collection and circulation systems.

Restoration of the greenhouse and villa

One of the most significant projects concerns the restoration of the heated greenhouse, one of the distinctive elements of Serre de la Madone’s horticultural heritage.

The structure houses numerous epiphytic plants, including orchids and tillandsias, species that require specific environmental conditions. Its restoration therefore has a dual purpose: preserving a historic structure while protecting the valuable botanical collections it contains.

The renovation of the main villa was also completed in 2026, while the final phase of the overall restoration programme is scheduled to continue in 2027.

Support from the Mission Patrimoine

The conservation project at Serre de la Madone received an important national recognition in 2025. The garden was selected as a regional landmark site of the Mission Patrimoine, the programme promoted by Stéphane Bern to support the preservation of France’s heritage.

The recognition was accompanied by €300,000 in funding through the Loto du patrimoine.

Overall, the Association pour la Sauvegarde des Jardins d’Exception du Mentonnais has already mobilised more than €2 million for the restoration and conservation of the site.

European Heritage Days 2026: free tours on September 19 and 20

The European Heritage Days 2026 will provide an opportunity to see the restoration and revival of Serre de la Madone first-hand.

During the guided tours, visitors will learn about the history of the garden, its botanical collections and Lawrence Johnston’s original design, while also discovering the conservation challenges facing the site and the restoration work already completed or planned.

Particular attention will be given to the restoration of the historic water systems, the stabilisation of the centuries-old terraces, the management of the botanical collections and strategies for addressing the effects of climate change.

Guided tours will depart from the garden reception at 10:30am, 11:45am, 2:45pm and 3:45pm, on both Saturday, September 19 and Sunday, September 20.

Each tour is limited to 30 participants and admission is free.

Booking required

Advance booking is required by calling 07 49 18 29 16 or by emailing jardinsdexception@ville-menton.fr.

Free parking is available subject to capacity. Visitors are encouraged to use public transport, with Zest bus No. 7, Madone stop, providing access to the garden.

The European Heritage Days offer an opportunity not only to discover one of Menton’s most remarkable historic sites, but also to understand the complexity of keeping a historic garden alive.

Serre de la Madone is more than a collection of rare plants and historic architecture. It is a true living heritage site, tasked with preserving its identity while adapting to new environmental challenges and passing its history on to future generations.

Information: https://serredelamadone.fr/fr/