Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The Garden of the Cedar found its origins in the 17th century, when the site, then agricultural, was centered around an isolated built complex in the heart of Cap Ferrat. In the 19th century, David-Désiré Pollonnais, mayor of Villefranche-sur-Mer, acquired the estate and planted the first exotic species there. The villa is rebuilt by architect Sébastien-Marcel Biasini, marking the beginning of the landscape transformations of the site.

In 1904 the king of the Belgians Leopold II bought the property, renamed it Les Cèdres and undertook important works. He expanded the estate, recruited the architect Aaron Messiah to remodel the villa, and entrusted Elie Lainé with the creation of a landscaped garden. Between 1905 and 1908, major developments were carried out, such as the demolition of a farmhouse to create a lake, or the addition of a stable. Jules Vacherot also designs the lower garden, a tea pavilion and Italian terraces.

After the death of Leopold II in 1909, the estate was neglected until 1921, when Ernest Cassel carried out work there, notably modifying the main access. In 1924, Alexandre Marnier-Lapostolle acquired the villa and developed the botanical garden, introducing Mexican essences and bigaradiers for the production of Grand-Marnier. His son, Julien, turned the site into a conservatory of exotic species, collaborating with world botanists such as Werner Rauh or Peter Bally.

Starting in the 1950s, the garden gained international recognition through its unique collections, including 44 species described on site. The greenhouses, built in the 1950s-1960s, are home to some of the most important succulent plants in the world. After the death of Julien Marnier-Lapostolle in 1976, his wife Suzanne continued the work, with redevelopments such as the tropical greenhouse (1993-1999). In 1998, there were between 14,000 and 16,000 species in the garden.

The estate, including the chapel Saint-François-de-Sales, was listed as a Historic Monument in 2021. Its protected features cover the park, greenhouses, garden factories and statuary. The Mediterranean climate on the peninsula has facilitated the acclimatisation of rare species, strengthening its scientific and heritage role.

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