Alongside the ephemeral garden competition, 37 municipalities in the Alpes-Maritimes are joining forces to offer more than 350 events under the theme “Mediterranean Dreams.”
Guided tours of the most beautiful gardens on the Côte d’Azur, special openings of gardens, discovery workshops, exhibitions, storytelling walks, egg hunts, and conferences to awaken your senses and bring wonder during this month dedicated to gardens and nature!
Here is a selection from the 350 events:
Numerous guided tours, both free and paid, in public and private gardens:
In Antibes Juan-les-Pins: The botanical garden of Villa Thuret: Guided tours by an experienced botanist on Saturday, April 27th at 10:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m., no reservation required.
In Cagnes-sur-Mer: Marro Property: Guided tours from Tuesday to Saturday at 10:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. during the Festival period, by appointment only.
In Contes: Château du Vignal: Guided tour by the gardener of the various gardens and the extensive olive grove of this private estate on Wednesday, April 24th at 9:00 a.m., by reservation.
In Eze: The exotic garden: Guided tours on Saturday, April 13th, and Sunday, April 14th from 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. and from 2:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m., by reservation.
In Grasse: the Mas des Pivoines, Villa Fort France, La Bastide Isnard: Guided tours by reservation.
In La Gaude: Argelière Garden: Visits on March 30th and 31st from 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. and on April 6th, 7th, 13th, 14th, 27th, and 28th from 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m., no reservation required unless for school groups.
In Menton: Mas Flofaro: Guided tours on March 30th and April 7th, 21st, and 27th from 10:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., by reservation; Val Rahmeh Garden: Guided tours on April 1st, 8th, 15th, and 22nd from 3:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m., by reservation, watercolor workshops: April 11th and 13th from 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m., by reservation; Colombières: special visits on April 2nd, 5th, 9th, 12th, 16th, 19th, 23rd, and 26th from 10:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., by reservation; Winter Palace and Riviera: Guided tours on April 3rd and 24th from 10:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., by reservation.
In Mouans-Sartoux: the gardens of the International Perfume Museum: Guided tours every Saturday and Sunday at 3:00 p.m., no reservation required.
In Nice: Villa Arson: Guided tours on April 8th and 10th at 3:00 p.m., by reservation.
In Peymeinade: Mas de l’Olivine: Guided tours from April 2nd to 30th, every Tuesday and Friday at 5:00 p.m., no reservation required.
In Saint-Paul-de-Vence: the Gardens of the Maeght Foundation: Guided tour of the garden on April 20th from 3:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m., by reservation.
In Vence: the Gardens of Château Saint Martin: April 24th from 10:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. and from 2:30 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
14 free-access conferences from April 4th to 28th including:
In Menton: The Mediterranean Dreamed by Ferdinand Bac: Led by Agnès du Vachat, garden historian, on Wednesday, April 27th from 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
In Nice: Mediterranean Dream: Led by Jean Mus, on Thursday, April 11th from 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Key events throughout the festival such as:
Carnation Festival in Falicon: April 27th and 28th with an animated meal, magic show, conference, exhibition, and play.
In Grasse in the land of perfumes, at the International Perfume Museum: olfactory activity on the flower of the year followed by a discovery of workshops and the Fragonard factory laboratory “La Fabrique des fleurs,” every Thursday from April 4th to 25th, at 2:00 p.m. in French and 4:00 p.m. in English.
The grand floral parade of the queen of Vence and flower battle: Grand Jardin Square, April 22nd starting at 2:30 p.m., no reservation required.
Nature Festival in Villeneuve-Loubet: April 7th from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., no reservation required.
4 film screenings at Nice’s Cinema Mercury including “The Intelligence of Trees,” “The Awakening of Permaculture,” “Minuscule 2,” and “The Garden in Movement.”
Exhibitions:
In Falicon: “Ephe…Mer”: April 27th and 28th from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., no reservation required.
In Grasse, Villa Saint-Hilaire: Presentation of heritage and contemporary documents on the art of Mediterranean Gardens: April 4th, 11th, 18th, and 25th from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and April 6th, 13th, 20th, and 27th from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m., no reservation required; Shade in Mediterranean climate: April 28th from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., no reservation required.
In Menton, Maison du Département: Photo exhibition in two versions from March 30th to April 28th from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., no reservation required.
In Nice: At Espace Laure Ecard, Côte d’Azur Land of Scents: From March 30th to April 28th, every day except Sunday, no reservation required; At Maison des Seniors Nice Centre, Exhibition of paintings: From April 1st to 26th from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and from 1:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m., closed on weekends, no reservation required; “Land of scents” exhibition at Nice Côte d’Azur Airport T1 and T2.
In Plan-du-Var, Maison du Département: Exhibition of Mediterranean plants and an exhibition of radiographies made from flower images by Valérie Marco from April 1st to 26th, Monday to Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., no reservation required.
In Roquebillière, Maison du Département: Exhibition of children’s creations from the school between sea and mountain, from March 30th to April 27th from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday to Friday and from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. on Saturday, no reservation required.
Fun activities for the youngsters:
12 treasure hunt afternoons for young and old, over the 5 municipalities of creations, on weekends and Wednesdays, April 10th and 17th, focused on discovering Mediterranean plants with the creation of a “magic herbarium.”
For Easter, egg hunts in gardens or parks in Menton and Peymeinade, and many activities for children throughout April (creative workshops, Mediterranean tales, repotting, farm animals…).
