Domaine du Rayol

About

The Domaine du Rayol (20 hectares), also known as the Jardin botanique du Rayol and the Parc botanique à Rayol-Canadel-sur-Mer, is a botanical garden and arboretum located on the Avenue des Belges, Rayol-Canadel-sur-Mer, Var, Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, France. It is listed as a Remarkable Garden of France by the Committee of Parks and Gardens of the Ministry of Culture of France. It is open to the public, with an admission fee.

History: The garden was first created in 1910 by Parisian businessman Alfred Theodore Courmes when he built his withdrawal home on a promotion overlooking the Baie du Figuier. In addition to a small farm on the site (1909), he built his first house (1912, subsequently the Hotel de la Mer) and later his second house (Rayolet, 1925), as well as a picturesque bastidon and pergola (1910). This earliest garden contained agave, eucalyptus, heathers, mimosa, palms, and other Mediterranean trees. In 1940 Mrs. Courmes sold the property to aeronautical engineer Henry Potez, who restored the buildings and built a staircase from the pergola down to the sea. With a staff of ten guards, the garden was extended and improved, and by 1948 contained near 400...