History and style:
In the immediate vicinity of the Franco-Italian border, in the majestic natural landscape of the Garavan Bay topped by the Red Rocks you can discover the Villa Serena.
Its garden is supposed to be the most temperate garden in France because the temperature there never goes under +5 °C.

Today, the villa is the property of the City of Menton because it was bequeathed by General Henry Koenig, to thank the city for so many joyful and happy years, this Victorian style smashing white villa shines in the distance as if it were sunk among Palm trees and subtropical vegetation.

As soon as you walk into the Maria Serena Villa, you are stunned with a gigantic " Oiseau de paradis " (Strelitzia angustifolia) which is 7 meters high! And also old Cycas revoluta. Ther, you can also admire the only outdoor Dragonnier des Canaries in Europe.

But the real " kings " of this realm are the palm trees.
Indeed, you can find Butia capitata, Erythea armata, Washingtonia filifera, Livistona chinensis, Chamaerops humilis, Phoenix canariensis, Phoenix roebellini and Trachycarpus fortunei.

The " last come " tree among these is the Parajubaea cocoides which comes right from Equador!

Address and informations :
Promenade Reine Astrid, in Menton Garavan, near the italian border.
The "Service du Patrimoine" organises visits.
(Phone: 04 92 10 33 66). Price : 5 euros.
Visit : every tuesdy morning at 10h.