Restoration project
Preserving an exceptional garden
Serre de la Madone,
a historic jewel in
the heart of Menton.
Much more than just a garden, Serre de la Madone is a botanical masterpiece, a haven of biodiversity nestled in the hills of Menton, created by one of the greatest landscape designers of the 20th century.
Today, this extraordinary site is a space for relaxation, education, research, and transmission, open to all audiences. It embodies history, science, garden artistry… and a unique vision of life.
But this jewel is under threat.
Together, let’s protect it.
Let’s restore it. Let’s reinvent it.
A unique botanical heritage and an emblem of the Riviera
Serre de la Madone, created between 1924 and 1939 by Major Lawrence Johnston, the famous English landscape architect, is a historic garden nestled on the hills of Menton. Johnston also created Hidcote Manor, a world-famous Arts and Crafts-inspired garden in the Cotswolds, England. In 1948 Johnston gifted Hidcote to the National Trust, its first garden-only property.
Spanning 9 hectares around an old Provençal farmhouse, Johnston gathered rare plants for La Serre from his expeditions to Africa, Asia, and the Americas, incorporating them into terraces embellished with pools and pergolas.
Classified as a Historic Monument in 1990 and labelled a “Jardin Remarquable” it has been owned by the Conservatoire du Littoral since 1999. Since 2022, it has been co-managed by the City of Menton and the Association for the Preservation of Exceptional Gardens of Menton (ASJEM). This unique site, combining exceptional plants and remarkable architectural structures, is an emblem of pre-second World War garden art on the Riviera.
An attractive heritage
Co-management of the garden by ASJEM and the City of Menton began in 2023.
A loyal growing audience
- Over 8,000 visitors per year
- Garden open 11 months a year
- Growing interest in nature and heritage
A thriving educational mission
- Over 3,000 children welcomed each year
- Sensory and school workshops
- Local educational partnerships
A renewed momentum
- First results of restoration work
- +32% revenue growth in 2023/2024
- Highest attendance in the past 10 years
Why restore Serre de la Madone?
The garden is facing urgent challenges that threaten its very existence.
These include water management difficulties exacerbated by climate change, eroding mineral surfaces, and the risk of terrace landslides. The irrigation networks are outdated and unusable, while historical buildings, such as the greenhouses, are in disrepair.
The overall site requires work to ensure safe public access and sustainable tourism as well as provision for visitors with reduced mobility.
ASJEM, in coordination with Menton and the Conservatoire du Littoral is actively raising the funds needed to address these critical challenges and has created a detailed restoration plan with these three goals:
- Secure
- Rehabilitate
- Revitalize
Restoration Goal: Secure
- Stabilizing the hillside and terraces with urgent works, including creating retaining walls and planting species adapted to climate change, such as suitable citrus trees.
- Ensuring safe pathways for visitors, including for those with disabilities.
- Restoring garden fencing to keep out wild boars.
Restoration Goal: Rehabilitate
- Rehabilitate key infrastructures such as the greenhouses (heated, propagation, and cold greenhouses) as well as the rainwater harvesting systems (pools, water pathways, fountains) whose elements structure the landscape.
- Restore the garden’s original appearance: historical landscape perspectives will be revived, particularly around the Villa, the Belvedere, the water features, and the lawns in order to restore the garden’s original character.
Restoration Goal: Revitalize
- Revitalize the botanical collections: The project includes revitalizing the existing botanical collections (including several national collections) with adapted plantings and sustainable management, in collaboration with scientific institutions such as the French National Institute for Agricultural Research, Food, and Environment (INRAE).
- Ensure long-term conservation: A suitable management plan will be implemented to ensure the sustainable conservation of the site. A scientific committee, chaired by Laurent Le Bon, President of the Georges Pompidou Centre, is overseeing the project to ensure the quality and diversity of the project components. The committee is composed of experts in botany, conservation, architecture, and landscaping to guarantee the quality of the work.
Radiate and connect
As part of the restoration project, ASJEM and its partners recognize the importance of not only securing the physical aspects of Serre de la Madone, but also enhancing awareness by leveraging its territorial, touristic, cultural and scientific assets. Increasing interest leads to increased visits, which is a vital aspect of the long-term financial viability of Serre de la Madone.
Three key areas of development have been identified:
- Territorial development
- Audience development
- Cultural development
Territorial development
Menton, capital of acclimatization gardens: Menton has an unparalleled heritage of exceptional gardens and aspires to become the world capital of acclimatization gardens.
Serre de la Madone, a tourist attraction: The restoration of Serre de la Madone aims to make it a central element in the city’s tourism development.
Active support from the municipality: The City of Menton actively supports ASJEM’s efforts for the restoration and enhancement of the garden. This project marks the first step in an ambitious policy of restoration, collaboration, and opening of both public and private gardens to the public.
UNESCO application: The city and ASJEM are working together
on the application for the acclimatization gardens of the
Franco-Italian Riviera to be classified a UNESCO World Heritage
Site.
Audience development
Strengthening ties with local audiences:
- Residents of the Riviera: Offering a diverse range of thematic tours to help discover and appreciate the richness of the garden.
- School groups: Establishing specific educational partnerships to raise awareness of biodiversity and heritage among younger generations.
- Local community: Facilitating access to and use of thegarden for local residents by creating a nearby, welcoming space.
International appeal: Attracting visitors from around the world by highlighting the uniqueness and beauty of Serre de la Madone.
Cultural development
Turning the garden into a vibrant cultural venue:
- Artistic events: Organizing concerts, exhibitions, theater performances, and film screenings within the garden.
- Festival and special events: Integrating the garden into the major cultural and tourist circuits of the region.
Spreading scientific knowledge:
- Conferences and seminars: Hosting experts and researchers to share knowledge in botany, horticulture, and ecology.
- Professional training: Establishing training programmes for professionals and enthusiasts passionate about gardening and conservation.
- Research Programs: Collaborating with scientific institutions on research and biodiversity conservation projects.
If you’re interested in helping our efforts in preserving Serre de la Madone and would like to see more detailed information including project phases, timing and budgets, you can download a detailed presentation by clicking here.
To learn more about how you can help visit our Get Involved page.
To learn about the different ways you can donate to support our efforts, please visit our Donate page.