The deep brown earth of Biot, reminiscent of the ochres tones of Tuscany, gave birth to a garden paradise of century old trees and exotic flowering plants, pebble paths set in patterns, terraces leading to whispering fountains, lanes of orange trees, fields of agapanthus, ancient olive groves and giant cypresses that reach for an azure sky; all are echoes of nearby Italy. The scent of nature abounds and melds with the chant of the cicadas, the summer heat is dulled in the shaded loggia's and intimate vaulted veranda's, sheltering pots of fragrant plants.

La Chèvre d'Or is located in Biot, near Antibes, on the french Rivièra, and was named after the nearby Roman 'Monument Historique de France', where according to a legend a golden treasure is guarded by a goat.

The 18th century farm, where once olives, carnations and anemones where cultivated for the market in Nice, was from 1950 transformed by Pierre and Nicole Champin into a famous garden; they were inspired and advised by their friends Charles de Noailles of Villa Noailles in Grasse, and the english botanist Basil Leng.

François Spoerry (architecte de Port Grimaud) wonderfully joined the two 18th et 19th century houses into one, and Robert Streitz (architect of La Pausa of Chanel et La Casella) built the new wing and the main terrace with its fountain. The famous Parisian decorator Emilio Terry (interior decoration châteaux de Clavary et de Groussay) designed the main vista of the garden and the fountain wall topped with the cypresses,

In its heyday in the fifties and sixties the Chèvre d'Or counted many remarkable guests like Charles de Gaulle and Winston Churchill.The Champins received the Paris “beau monde” from Dior to Poulenc, giving house concerts and theatre with Jean Cocteau.

It was Vicomte de Noailles who made them aware of the importance of the sound of water, neighbour Basil Leng brought plants from the abandoned Serre de la Madone after the death of Lawrence Johnston in order to save them, with success:  the Magnolia delavayi and Mahonia lomariifolia are superb. Other gardening friends included Princess Greta Sturdza of Vastérival, Prince Peter Wolkonsky of Kerdalo, Dick van Hoey Smith of Arboretum Trompenburg, Arend Jan van der Horst and Gerard Rakers, Baroness Loulou de Waldner, Sir Peter Smithers, Lady Renée Iliffe, Lady Joanna Millar of La Prieuré,   William Waterfield of Clos du Peyronnet and many many others; all gave and received cuttings, plants and advice. Tom Parr and Claus Scheinert found inspiration for their garden La Casella in Opio.

In 1999 the present owners took over and restored the partly neglected house and garden, and have been looking since for serenity and  subtle harmony between  natural and formal, instead of the once manicured perfection; in this renaissance the garden continued to evolve. 

They are now ready to pass it on again, hoping to find new garden lovers with fresh energy and loving care, who will continue to preserve this secret piece of french heritage.

See list of publications on the garden by  Roy Lancaster, Gabrielle van Zuylen, Penelope Hobhouse, David Hicks, Michel Racine, Ernest Boursier-Mougenot, Georges Levêque, Vivian Russell and  Louisa Jones, and magazine articles.