Domaine du Rayol, a mediterranean garden in the south of France

Visit Domaine du Rayol

The Domaine du Rayol is between Le-Lavandou and Cavalaire-sur-Mer on the mediterranean coast near Saint-Tropez in southern France. This is a splendid garden and is a good opportunity to get some fabulous views over the beautiful rocky coast of this part of the Cote d'Azur.

Explore the Domaine du Rayol

The Domaine du Rayol garden covers 20 hectares and allows you to walk through a Mediterranean garden, Californian garden, an Australian garden, a Chilean garden and a South African garden and much more. It has a garden for each of the regions of the world with a Mediterranean climate.

With sumptuous tree ferns, cactus in all shapes and sizes and a breathtaking view of the Mediterranean coast this garden is not to be missed.

A highlight is the canary garden with its mass of Echiums, one of my favourite plants but unfortunately not hardy where I live. There are also Proteas growing in the South-African garden and Mimosas in the Australian garden. If you are travelling around January, February you should get to see some stunning displays of Mimosa trees in flower all around the south of France.

Given that the Domaind du Royal specialises in plants for the hot, dry mediterranean type climates around the world it is suprising to find they have also managed to grow a New Zealand style garden with the palms, ferns and phormiums which love a high humidity.

This is because in part of the Domaine du Rayol there is a stream and the surrounding garden has a much higher humidity than the rest.

There is so much to see and learn in this garden that it is worth taking one of the guided visits which are available.

There is an excellent cafe-restaurant at the Domaine du Rayol and also a library of plant books you can look at.

The Domaine du Rayol has opened a pepiniere selling plants and so if you have been inspired you can buy something for your own garden.

Domaine du Rayol garden guide

The garden is open from 09.30 every morning. In Nov to March it closes at 17.30, April, May, June, Sept and Oct at 18.30 and July and Aug at 19.30.

The entrance cost is 12 euros for adults, 9 euros for under 18s and free to under 6s.

This garden is situated to the West of Saint-Tropez on the Cote d'Azur.

Address: Domaine du Rayol, Le Jardin des Méditerranées, Avenue Jacques Chirac, 83820 Rayol-Canadel-sur Mer

The garden is open for various plant festivals and music concerts throughout the year which are a special way to enjoy the gardens.

Gardens to visit nearby

This is an excellent part of France for garden visits. Both the Exotic Garden of Eze and the Exotic Garden of Monaco are stunning gardens full of succulents and cacti and offering fabulous coastal views. As a contrast the gardens of the Villa Ephrussi are huge sumptuous gardens of various styles set around a lovely Cote d'Azur villa.

The La Louve garden has become somewhat iconic for its design flair and both the Gardens of the Chateau Val Joanis and the La Pomme d'Ambre garden are prize winning gardens full of inspiration.

You can find more local travel ideas in the South East France guide,

Photos of Domaine du Rayol

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Map of Domaine du Rayol and places to visit

Domaine du Rayol places to visit

La Pomme d'Ambre

The Pomme d'Ambre garden on the Cote d'Azur is a favourite with the French public and is in a cottage garden style unusual for this part of France.

La Pomme d'Ambre guide

Villa and gardens Ephrussi de Rothschild

The gardens of the Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild are simply magnificent and cover a whole range of styles.

Villa and gardens Ephrussi de Rothschild guide

Jardin Exotique d'Eze

The Jardin Exotique d'Eze sits at the top of the stunning village of Eze and you can enjoy the views amongst the amazing cacti and succulents of the garden.

Jardin Exotique d'Eze guide