Jardin Exotique de Monaco, France: Off The Beaten Path

 

Located on the dramatic cliffside of Monaco, the Jardin Exotique de Monaco is the perfect day trip if you’re staying in the south of France. With succulents, cacti, and panoramic views of the Mediterranean, the flourishing garden is a mountain oasis for all ages. As part of the Jardin Exotique, we suggest taking a guided tour of the beautiful grotto on the property!

 

Originally brought from Mexico in the late 1860s, the succulents were grown by Augustin Gastaud, Chief Gardener of the State Gardens of Monaco, in the Jardin St Martin. The exotic plants were later transplanted by Prince of Monaco Albert I to a piece of land in Les Moneghetti in 1912. This property was the start of the Jardin Exotique de Monaco.

 

During the construction of walking paths and footbridges, it was found that the property was sitting on an ancient grotto, filled with evidence of prehistoric human inhabitants. It is well worth it to take a tour of the enchanting underground cavern. There is also a museum of Prehistoric Anthropology within the gardens to display the findings of the excavation.

 

Over the years, exotic plants have been added to the garden from all over the world; you will find vegetation from Central and South America, South and Oriental Africa, Arabian Peninsula, and the South-West of the USA. With such a diverse range of plants, along with the stunning view over Monaco’s shining coast, the Jardin Exotique is a fantastic stop along the Mediterranean for a picturesque afternoon.