European Heritage Days: Serre de la Madone Garden

To mark the 43rd edition of European Heritage Days, the Jardin Serre de la Madone will open its doors wide on Saturday, September 19, and Sunday, September 20, 2026, and will offer eight free guided tours focused on one of this year’s themes: “Heritage in Danger: Revive, Resist, Reimagine.” This theme resonates particularly strongly with the recent history of this exceptional garden in Menton, which is currently undergoing an ambitious preservation and restoration program. Preserving a garden means preserving a living heritage: Created beginning in 1924 by Major Lawrence Johnston, also the creator of the famous Hidcote Garden in England, Serre de la Madone stands as one of the Riviera’s most significant examples of garden art. Rare plants brought from all corners of the world, landscaped terraces, ponds, fountains, greenhouses, pergolas, vistas, and architecture come together to form an exceptional ensemble where botanical heritage and built heritage are inseparable. Designated a Historic Monument since 1990 and awarded the “Remarkable Garden” label, the estate now faces significant conservation challenges: the deterioration of certain terraces, aging water systems, the decay of historic greenhouses , ensuring the safety of walkways, as well as climate change and the need to adapt the plant collections. All these challenges serve as a reminder that a historic garden is never a static heritage site: it must be cultivated, maintained, restored, and adapted so that it can be passed on to future generations.