Ferdinand Bac, draughtsman and writer, designed this Garavan estate between 1920 and 1924 and extended it into the 1930s, as ceramics dated 1932 and 1934 attest. Across more than three hectares, some one hundred and thirty metres above the shore, he composed a sequence of vistas, pavilions, colonnades, bridges and enclosed gardens, using Mediterranean species alone. The buildings with their decoration, and the garden with its follies and statuary, have been listed as historic monuments since 1991.
Bought in 1995 by Michael and Margaret Likierman, the estate was restored in the late 1990s with landscape designer Arnaud Maurieres. It can be seen only on a guided visit, in a very small group, the interior of the villa remaining private. Group visits and tailored dates are arranged directly with the owners. The ground is steep and the property is reached by road from Menton.
Other experiences in Port de Menton (Garavan)
An organic citrus orchard on the heights above Garavan, where the Menton IGP lemon grows alongside some thirty species. The estate opens either as a guided walk or as a fully private format.
Culture & HeritageCap Moderne, Villa E-1027 and Le Corbusier's CabanonOn the tip of Cap Martin, two manifestos of twentieth century architecture set along the same path, managed by the Centre des monuments nationaux. Accompanied visits only.
Culture & HeritageFontana Rosa, the Novelists' GardenA ceramic garden created by the novelist Vicente Blasco Ibanez, listed as a historic monument and owned by the city of Menton. It can only be visited with a guide, in a small group.
Shopping & CraftsmanshipMaison Herbin, Jam Making in Copper PansAn artisan jam workshop in Menton's old town, devoted to local citrus and holding the Living Heritage Company label. The workshop can be seen while the fruit is cooking.