In its aromatic citrus garden, the sunny Cyrnos villa welcomed the flamboyant upper crust of early-20th century high society. Queens, poets and artists met in the shade of fig trees and parasol pines. They enjoyed a fabulous view and the easy life so typical of the blue Mediterranean shores. The villa benefited from Roquebrune’s air of scented lavender mixed with the dry aromas of Provence. In 1894, Empress Eugénie decided to have constructed one of the most beautiful villa of Cap Martin on the Côte d’Azur. She named it Villa Cyrnos and created a semi-desert, mineral, contrasted and fragrant garden. Pines, the Cap’s typical trees, were planted as well as olive and fig trees. In this magnificent garden, the Empress welcomed the great names of an aging, nostalgic European aristocracy but also avant-garde artists and intellectuals.