The gardens of the Côte d’Azur have their magician, Jean Mus. This famous landscape gardener, a child of the South, created the exteriors of the most beautiful villas on the Riviera in his own image: all curves, in a cleverly arranged disorder, and all exuding his love of the Mediterranean. A pioneer whose vision of the plant world has left its mark on time, from Monaco to Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat, sometimes taking a detour to decorate Paris or Marrakech.
The gardens of Jean Mus: the new landscape of the Côte d’Azur
His mischievous blue eyes capture all the nuances of the azure Mediterranean where he grew up. Jean Mus is inspired by the ruggedness of this region, its endemic species, its wild, rocky nature and its unmistakable scents. Born in the region and the son of a famous head gardener at the Villa Croisset in Grasse, he was immersed in the greenery and the natural world, to which he soon decided to pay homage. A graduate of the École Nationale du Jardin et du Paysage in Versailles, and inspired by the most beautiful gardens on the Riviera, in particular the Hanbury Garden in Ventimiglia, of which he is madly in love, he and his studio set out to pass on his passion and deep respect for nature.
“The best thing for a gardener is to accompany nature with respect, humility and patience. To intervene, but not to disturb”. And that’s what Jean Mus does. He does not interfere, but plants and models, so that the simplicity, naturalness and rustic beauty of Mediterranean gardens play the leading roles in a symphony of which he is the ambassador: an odyssey to the heart of the Mediterranean.
The gardens of Jean Mus: from Monaco to Saint-Tropez
They dot the coastline and the hinterland: Jean Mus’s botanical creations have their roots in the region. Jealously hidden behind the fences of the most luxurious private villas or offered to the visitor when they decorate buildings open to the public, the gardens of Jean Mus awaken all our senses. Here you’ll find the twisting trunks of olive, myrtle and fig trees and their unmistakable scents. The gardener, who describes himself as an undisciplined student, adds water and lets the river flow through his compositions to find balance. His gardens are to be admired:
In Monaco, with the landscaped areas of the Grimaldi Forum, those of the Hôtel de Paris or the famous Tour Odéon.
In Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat, with the grounds of the Grand Hôtel du Cap.
Roquebrune-Cap-Martin, on the Maybourne Riviera, or in Èze and its exotic gardens, or in Saint-Tropez at the Château Cheval Blanc.
The “man of 1,500 gardens” has imposed his philosophy, his lively vision of nature and conquered the hearts of the Mediterranean. But also those beyond our borders. International commissions abound, but when Jean Mus accepts, it is always with respect for the genius of the place and the climatic conditions.
To discover Jean Mus is to discover the French Riviera in a different way. It’s a botanical introduction to its non-conformist spirit, which shuns fashion to offer a personality with strong contours, recognisable and recognised characteristics – in short, a unique region that draws its strength from nature and the beauty of its landscapes, where life is much gentler than anywhere else. Discover our range of villas on the Côte d’Azur
