Rue Ardoïno

He was a great scholar, man of letters, initiator of the cultural life of Menton, is entitled to a small street 120 m long and less than 3 wide, between Avenue Felix Faure and Partouneaux Street. As for the place Ardoïno, in front of the city hall, it has long been "renamed" in practice: place de la mairie. Grandson of Nicolas Ardoïno, mayor of Diano-Marina, created Baron d'Empire in 1811, son of Jean-Baptiste who came to settle in Menton where he married in 1818 Honorine de Monléon (a family related to all the great families who have made Menton), Nicolas, Honoré, Jean-Baptiste Ardoïno was born September 19, 1819. He did solid classical and scientific studies, the very type of humanist. And if he led a life of great bourgeois, he also wrote works devoted to his two passions: his native city and botany (several of his works are available at the municipal library): "Petites annales de Monaco, Roquebrune et Menton", written in 1843, published in 1926, republished 15 years ago by the Society of Art and History of Mentonnais. "Catalog of the vascular plants which grow spontaneously in the surroundings of Menton and Monaco (1862). Flore des Alpes-Maritimes" 1867, republished in 1879, then in 1980 by the Laffitte editions of Marseille. "Contribution à l'enquête agricole dans la 24e circonscription" 1867, where he confided his concern about the decadence of the lemon culture. His premature death on August 24, 1874, at the age of 55, did not allow him to publish many manuscripts that are unfortunately lost. He actively participated in the "Mentonnaise revolution" of 1848 against the Princes of Monaco, and was part of the provisional government commission appointed on March 2. But, for him, the movement was too "politicized", too radical: deep down, he was not a revolutionary, he moved away from Trenca and was not elected to the great council of the free cities of Menton and Roquebrune, retiring to his ivory tower, taking care of his properties, traveling and especially giving free rein to his passion, botany. Honoré Ardoïno was also involved in the intellectual life of Menton. With his friends, Dr. Jean-Dominique Bottini and Baron de Partouneaux, he founded the "Cercle Philharmonique" which was to revive the cultural and intellectual life: To give a roof to the circle, he built the building that now houses the town hall and built the square in front of the circle on land that also belonged to him, making it all to the city. He also offered land to his two friends to build two buildings in front of the Circle in the same style. His goal was to create an Italian-style square with a garden in the middle and a view of the sea. But land speculation prevented him from acquiring the part located on the coastline. It is also him who opened the road that bears his name today.