The garden

Majestic trees and plants of many species dot around 16,000m² of the grounds, covering most of the property. The wealth and diversity of this lush haven and the high quality of its upkeep have made this vast outdoor space a listed garden (‘jardin remarquable’), a status that France’s culture ministry officially bestowed upon it in 2008. Indeed, here you find over 400 citrus fruit trees of different species, including lemon trees, grapefruit trees, kumquat trees, mandarin trees and pomelo trees. There are also over 200 olive trees that are several centuries old and around 100 tropical and subtropical species of plants that are rare. The lemon trees enjoy Menton’s special protected label of origin. They are cultivated and produce lemons for many luxury hotels and restaurants in the local region. Chefs appreciate the unique taste of these lemons. The valley’s mild microclimate and the on-site presence of huge amounts of water from a spring, a borehole and rainwater tanks create the conditions for the excellent quality and strong growth of these lemon trees. So the garden forms a botanical ecosystem with outstanding diversity and rarity. In this way, it helps preserve and promote the region’s natural heritage.

The villa

The villa is an old building with traditional architecture. This main dwelling is made of stone and concrete and is crowned with a roof of tiles upon a timber frame. The building has been extended over time. A shady raised terrace lies in front of the house’s main entrance door. Here, wisteria climbs up a pergola, giving the garden character and elegance. On the ground floor, you step into an entrance hall. Next, there are several comfortable lounges with fireplaces, a small fitted kitchen, and a large conservatory with a floor area of around 85m² that has a hot tub and awnings. There is also a guest bathroom with a lavatory. Upstairs, there are three double-size bedrooms with four bathrooms and a separate lavatory. The semibasement is made up of cellars, a utility room, a boiler room and a bedroom with a bathroom. Down here there is also a wine cellar and a technical room for the hot tub. Furthermore, this semibasement includes a bedroom with a bathroom and windows offering pleasant views. There is a marble staircase. The floors are varied: there are terracotta tiles, sprung wood flooring, modern tiling and terrazzo. The walls are plastered and painted plainly. The countless windows looking outside fill the interior with natural light from all sides and offer views of the surrounding greenery.

The guesthouse

The guesthouse is a traditional building made in the style of a Provençal farmhouse. It blends with the main house harmoniously and is linked to the latter via a paved path that snakes through the garden. It has a large lounge with a cathedral ceiling. The impressive ceiling height here creates a majestic ambience that gives the house character. The exposed beams that run across the ceiling and the slate floor give rustic charm to this space. Large windows bathe it in natural light and offer sweeping views of the garden. A mezzanine floor creates a cosy raised space. And a welcoming kitchen designed with traditional materials lies beyond the lounge. The guesthouse also has a bedroom with an adjoining bathroom. The garden level offers a vast space for relaxation: a billiard room with large windows, exposed timber beams, a floor of terracotta tiles and a broad brick fireplace.

The caretaker’s house

The caretaker’s house was built around 40 years ago. The building’s architecture is rustic. Its facade has windows with modern frames and wooden shutters painted in a warm tone. The ground floor has a double garage with a concrete floor. The garden level – the house’s upstairs floor – has a main room, a simple kitchen, two bedrooms and a shower room. A straight staircase leads up to a partly converted loft space with a concrete floor and a ceiling of battens. Up here there are two rooms with low ceilings. Skylights brighten them up. There is also a bathroom. The floors are varied: there is tiled flooring, PVC flooring and terrazzo.

The swimming pool and pool house

At one end the property, there is a deep swimming pool that is 19 metres long and 9 metres wide. It was renovated in 2023 and has two concrete diving boards, a sand and salt filter, and a vast poolside area of natural stone laid in an opus incertum pattern. A small structure built against the hill faces the pool. It is a permanent structure with rendered walls and a timber roof frame. It currently serves as a pool house and annexe. It has a tiled roof, wooden shutters and a welcoming appearance. Inside, its ground floor offers a bright room with a window, a small kitchen and a shower room with a lavatory. Terracotta tiles cover the floors. Upstairs, there is a bedroom with a low, sloping ceiling. You reach this upstairs floor via an outdoor flight of stone steps.

The plot that can be built upon

A plot of around 1,700m² on the property’s west side could easily be separated from the rest of the grounds and a new structure could be built upon it. Planning permission for this has already been granted.

The annexe

Beside the entrance to the property, there is a small structure covered with vegetation. It offers a floor area of around 40m². It could be used for storage as part of the lemon-farming activities or for many other purposes.