Villa Eilenroc Gardens, Cap d'Antibes
Most visitors to Cap d'Antibes drive past the gates of Villa Eilenroc without realising the gardens are open to the public two afternoons a week. Designed by Charles Garnier — the architect of the Paris Opéra — the estate tumbles across the cape's tip with rose gardens, a fragrant aromatic trail and jaw-dropping sea views in three directions.
The Gardens
The 11-hectare grounds include a formal rose garden with over 130 varieties that peaks in May and June, an olive grove of centuries-old trees and a calade — a Provençal stone path — that winds through Mediterranean scrub to a belvedere overlooking the open sea.
The aromatic garden near the villa entrance is planted with lavender, rosemary, thyme and jasmine in dense, fragrant blocks — it was created in partnership with the Chanel perfume house, which has historic ties to the estate. The scent on a warm afternoon is extraordinary.
The Villa & Practical Details
The Belle Époque villa itself is not open to the public, but its exterior — white, ornate, draped in bougainvillea — is worth photographing from the garden paths. The views from the cape's tip take in the Lérins Islands, the Esterel hills and, on clear days, the distant smudge of Corsica.
Because the opening hours are limited and not widely advertised, you will rarely encounter more than a handful of other visitors — a remarkable contrast to the crowded beaches a kilometre away.
More of Juan-les-Pins
Discover where to stay, what to do and the best deals for your trip.
Explore Juan-les-Pins →
