Domaine du Rayol

This unique place of contemplation, the fruit of the 20th century, celebrates the diversity of botanical cultures by being conceived as a veritable "planetary index".

Contemporary landscape architect Gilles Clément designed the Jardin des Méditerranées, an invitation to travel through the world's Mediterranean landscapes and landscapes with more arid or subtropical climates. The Jardin des Méditerranées has been designed around three major concepts:

• The " garden in motion ", allowing plants to grow without being limited by the constraints usually imposed on nature by man.
• The " third landscape " acts as the planet's genetic reservoir, representing areas that are not exploited by man.
• Finally, the " planetary garden " recognises the finiteness of the Earth and the role of humans as gardeners of space.

Watch the video "Domaine du Rayol, seen from the sky"

At the heart of the Domaine du Rayol, Villa Rayolet is an emblematic building steeped in history. Built in 1927 by architect Guillaume Tronchet for the Courmes family, then extended and modernised in the 1940s for the Potez family, it has remained uninhabited since the 1970s. However, its intact layout and decor are a rare example of the bourgeois and seaside resorts of the 1940s, which is why it was listed as a Historic Monument in 1994.

Restoring Villa Rayolet was essential to preserving this cultural heritage. Launched in 2016-2017, the work has restored the Villa to its original splendour and appearance.

Villa Rayolet is now ready to embark on its new life as an artists' residence, a place of learning about Mediterranean plants, landscapes and gardens, and a permanent exhibition on the history of the Domaine du Rayol. Restoration work has preserved its unique character and allowed it to be shared with the public.