Are you a first-time visitor to the Jardin des Méditerranées? Do take a few minutes to learn about the garden’s design and its designer, the landscape gardener Gilles Clément, in the exhibition room which is located at the entrance to the Gardens. There is also information on the history of the site and its architecture, as well as its wealth of Mediterranean flora.
The property is owned by the Conservatoire du Littoral
01. Hotel de la Mer seen from the Baie du Figuier
The Domaine du Rayol became the property of the Conservatoire du Littoral in 1989; its architecture bears witness to the changes that took place along the Provencal coast during the 20th century. Its iconic buildings are central to the property, which changed hands several times over this period; today, they provide points of reference for visitors to the Jardin des Méditerranées.
See the world through the environmentally-friendly gardens
Next, travel through the Jardin des Méditerranées 10 different landscapes, which were devised by Gilles Clément who is often considered to be the pioneer of environmentally-friendly gardens in France. Here Mother Nature reigns: the plants grow where they please… The landscape gardener’s designs help the gardeners maintain the areas efficiently.
Work with nature as far as possible, and against her as little as possible’: this quote from Gilles Clément perfectly sums up the ethos behind the gardens.
The plants’ capacity to adapt to the Mediterranean climate
The Mediterranean plants that grow here serve to illustrate the abundance of the plant world, its capacity to adapt and the connections which exist between plants and their environment. The pioneers of life on earth, plants have evolved so successfully because of their amazing capacity to adapt; they have therefore managed to colonise all the available space on the planet. Evidence of this can be seen in Mediterranean plants which have learnt to cope with fires, resist summer droughts and reproduce with great efficiency so as to ensure the survival of their species.
