In its latest 2021 edition the renowned Ulysses guide has chosen Monaco’s Exotic Garden among the 150 most beautiful gardens in the world. It is a real eden photographed beautifully.
While you wait to rediscover this gem on our doorstep with its breathtaking view of the Principality you can enjoy beautiful illustrations of the gardens.
Due to major security and consolidation work, the Exotic Garden has been closed since May 2020. But expectations are that it should open its doors to the public again by 2022.
The 150 of the world’s most beautiful gardens are selected from all regions of the globe. The Exotic Garden merits its inclusion as a fabulous botanical park, an enchanting place built within sight of Monaco’s palace and Belle Époque architecture. It is a space for inspiration and renewal punctuated with exotic flowers, rare plants, and rockeries.
The Exotic Garden Won on Four Criteria
- its dazzling beauty,
- its botanical, cultural and artistic interest with its countless varieties of cacti and succulents;
- the exceptional tourist experience the Exotic Garden provides
- and the Garden’s accessibility,
A place to take splendid photographs that make you dream and want to revisit the Principality’s oasis.
A first among equals it finds itself in the guide listed among the Butchart Garden of British Columbia famous for rhododendrons, tulips, ornamental cherry trees and magnolias; the Hispano gardens of the Alhambra in Granada and the Alcazar in Seville and the Majorelle Garden in Marrakech. Going further afield to find equivalent splendour one might immerse oneself in the poetry of the garden of Villa Katsura in Kyoto; though Monaco’s own Japanese Garden is just a stone’s throw away. Otherwise take a 1500 kilometre trek and wonder at the explosion of colours and “debauchery” of perfumes from Monet’s Gardens in Giverny.
Treat yourself to all the richness of one of the most remarkable gardens in the world when it reopens or meanwhile take a glimpse of it in this beautiful Ulysses guide written in French.
About Monaco’s Exotic Garden
Since its public opening in 1933, the Exotic Garden of Monaco has stayed totally unique with its succulent plants with extravagant shapes of which cactus constitutes the most known family – and of which the Garden has an impressive 1000 varieties or so.
This Garden’s acclimated plants come from various far and dry exotic locations – from the South-West of the USA, Mexico, Central and South America for the cactus and agaves; South, Oriental Africa and Arabian Peninsula for the other succulents. Many cactus produce big coloured flowers appearing during the daytime.
The Botanic Centre
Greenhouses are now conveniently located outside the garden and hold a very rare scientific heritage. This new Botanic Centre was inaugurated on October 31st 2017 by H.S.H. Prince Albert II and the Mayor of Monaco, Georges Marsan after 2 years of intensive work.
A dedicated team of 7 gardeners is taking care of literally thousands of plants there some of which are rare and endangered specimens. When the Exotic Garden itself reopens look also to take advantage of guided tours of the Botanic Centre.
