Gardens of Earthly Delight: Jardin Exotique, Monaco
By Pamela Robin Brandt
Clinging dramatically to a rock face just below the French
Riviera's Moyenne Corniche, this terraced, 11,500-square-metre
rock garden, officially inaugurated in 1933, features a collection
of some 7000 varieties of succulents and cacti (some very
strangely shaped; the ones resembling a spiked football are
called 'mother-in-laws' pillows') from much warmer regions
of the world.
These nevertheless grow to the same giant size they would
have in their native lands (mostly Africa and the Americas),
and flower, brilliantly, for a prolonged season, thanks to
the garden's unique micro-climate, which somehow ensures unusual
warmth and moisture, plus 2400 hours of sun annually.
The best time to visit is spring and summer, when the cacti
are in bloom. But even in winter, the garden is resplendent
with the natural red and yellow fireworks of a variety of
flowering aloes.
Admission tickets also give visitors access to the garden's
permanent and revolving plant exhibits, plus two other on-site
attractions: a Grotte Préhistorique, home to hundreds
of stalactites and stalagmites -- and first home to ancient
Monagesques who lived in this cave 300,000 years ago; and
the Musée d'Anthropologie Prehistorique, which houses
remains from ancient tombs collected from the local area.
But the garden's grand panoramic view -- encompassing the
whole principality of Monaco, including the famous spot along
the Upper Corniche where Princess Grace sped to her death,
as well as both the French and Italian Rivieras -- is alone
worth the price of admission.
Information:
Where:
Jardin Exotique de Monaco
62 Boulevard du Jardin Exotique
B.P. 105
MC 98002
MONACO Cedex.
Hours:
Open all year except November 19 and December 25. From April
15 to September 15, hours are 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.; from September
16 to April 14, hours are 9 a.m. to sunset (about 6 p.m.).
Price:
Adults, 40F; children 6-18, 19F (under 6 free).
Getting There:
By car, the drive from Nice to Monaco along the Corniche
Inférieure (Lower Corniche) is about 50 minutes; and
buses from Nice to Menton, which stop in Monaco, run every
30 minutes. Monaco/Monte Carlo SCNF rail station (93 25 54
54) is on Avenue Prince Pierre; the train trip from Nice is
25 minutes.
The Jardin is in the western part of Monaco's terraced residential
Moneghetti section, between Boulevard de Belgique (below)
and Boulevard du Jardin Exotique (above), adjacent to Parc
Princess Antoinette, and well signposted by the extremely
winding road that leads up to the Jardin from Monaco's central-city
Monaco-Ville, Fontvielle, and La Condamine sections (where
the bus and train stations are located). If driving, there
is a parking lot roughly 200m from the Jardin. Bus #2 also
runs from Monaco's Monaco-Ville and Monte Carlo sections to
the Jardin. To call a taxi: 93 15 01 01 or 93 50 56 28.
Further Info:
377 93 15 29 80 - phone
377 93 15 29 81 - fax
Website: www.montecarlo.mc/jardinexotique/jardin.html
For Flights and Airfares to Monaco - click
here for the Travel Homepage.
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