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The Rayol Estate, a Garden Expressing the Spirit of Travel

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This magical place demands all the visitor’s senses. Between land and sea, beneath the blue sky and whipped-white clouds, a timeless journey lets you discover distant Mediterranean landscapes.

By Jean-Dominique Dalloz - Photos José Nicolas - October 18, 2011

There are some places on earth you never want to leave. Most certainly, the Rayol Estate is one of them. Of about twenty hectares of what last century was the property of a rich businessman from the region, seven are dedicated to sumptuous landscaped gardens. In this estate at the foot of the Maures mountains and overlooking the Hyères islands, we’re invited to discover, to the relaxed rhythm of our footsteps, an abundance of natural vistas. The gardener, Gilles Clément,

who redesigned the grounds after their purchase by the state in 1989, of course created a typical coastal landscape from the Var region. But he also had the inspiration of incorporating the grounds with garden motifs from distant lands, but with similar climates to the Mediterranean. So the landscapes of this international garden are biologically very similar, but visually very different. This contributes greatly to the magic of the place, which offers a journey in which

both vegetable and architectural heritage is intertwined. Another key element of the estate’s offering is a series of themed tours, as well as classes, during which participants can discover the gardens with the help of a trained guide or instructor. This light education doesn’t interfere with the enchantment of discovering; on the contrary, it provides the keys necessary to even better appreciate the beauty of this remarkably preserved environment.

After your walk through the South African Fynbos, the Chilean Matorral, Australia’s Mallee followed by the Kwongan

heathlands, the Californian Chaparral and Provencal scrub and forest, don’t forget to quench your thirst in the Café des Jardiniers. Then we’ll take a tour in the nursery where you can buy a few of the Rayol’s emblematic plants. In this delightful iteration of a gift shop, you’ll find a charming selection of living souvenirs.

 

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The Rayol Estate
Avenue des Belges
83820 Rayol-Canadel-sur-Mer
Tél. : 04 98 04 44 00
www.domainedurayol.org