After years hidden behind scaffolding and safety barriers, one
of Monaco’s most beloved landmarks is finally ready to welcome visitors
once more. The Jardin Exotique de Monaco will officially reopen on Monday, March 30, ending a long closure for extensive structural repairs and renovations.
The
gardens will be open daily from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., restoring public
access to a site that has long been part of Monaco’s cultural identity. A
day earlier, on Sunday, March 29, the principality will host a special
preview opening reserved for Monegasque citizens and residents, who can
enter free of charge with proof of identity or a residence permit.
Clinging dramatically to the cliffs on the western edge of the tiny
Mediterranean state of Monaco, the Jardin Exotique is famous for its
extraordinary collection of succulents and cacti gathered from arid
regions across the world. From its terraces, visitors enjoy sweeping
views over the principality and the sparkling waters of the
Mediterranean below.
The garden’s history stretches back more than
a century. It was officially opened in 1933 under the reign of Prince
Louis II of Monaco, after years of work to transform the steep rocky
hillside into a botanical showcase. The project was championed by
botanist Auguste Chevalier and landscape architect Louis Notari, who
helped establish what would become one of the most celebrated succulent
gardens in the world.
Over the decades, the garden grew into a living museum of desert
flora, housing thousands of species—from towering Mexican cacti to rare
African succulents—carefully adapted to thrive on the sun-drenched
cliffs above the city.
For residents and visitors alike, the
reopening marks the return of a spectacular green refuge above the dense
urban skyline—proof that even in the smallest of countries, nature can
still take center stage.
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