Tucked away between the glamorous glitz of Cannes and the rugged cliffs of the Esterel Mountains lies a plot of land that has baffled locals for decades. To the untrained eye, it is merely an overgrown estate behind rusted iron gates. But to connoisseurs of the French Riviera’s secret history, it is known as Villa Vevrier —a name that translates peculiarly to "The Asparagus Patch."

Today, Villa Vevrier operates as a private artist’s retreat. For three months a year (April to June, the asparagus harvest season), it opens its gates to the public. Visitors can walk through the "Vevrier Labyrinth," a maze of mirror shards embedded in the floor, reflecting the sky. If you are looking for golden beaches and champagne bars, skip it. But if you want to stand in a room where the walls disappear, where the ghost of a mad industrialist still tends to his crown ferns, and where a spiteful king’s wall crumbles slowly into the sea—then find the rusty gate. Knock twice. The glass will turn clear for you. Travel Tip: The villa does not have a website. To book the April tour, you must write a physical letter (in French or English) to the “Conservatoire du Vevrier” in Théoule-sur-Mer. Include a pressed wildflower, or they will not reply.

For decades, the villa stood in ruins. But in 2018, a Dutch conservation group purchased the property under a single condition: they would not restore the glass to its original amber tint. Instead, they used —glass that turns opaque on command.