The Bagatelle Gardens

I don't pretend to know Paris intimately, but we've been here a few times and have seen the big sites. So how is it that we have never heard of one of the most beautiful gardens I've had the pleasure of visiting? Denise and Fred, our wonderful Paris mentors, told us about the Bagatelle garden and we do everything they recommend. So we checked the weather forecast and headed off to the far outskirts of the city.


They don't make garden gates like they used to!

Like everything in Paris, the Bagatelle has an old and colourful history. It is located in the Bois de Boulogne which was a forest outside of Paris that the Royals frequented for hunting and hiding away with mistresses. In 1722 a Duke built a chateau for his wife, but it fell into disrepair. The Comte of Artois ( brother of Louis 16th and future King Charles 10th) bought it and accepted a wager of 100,000 livres from the queen Marie Antoinette that he could have the house ready in a few weeks for a fete. On 21st September 1777, nine hundred men started the work: they worked day and night, by the light of torches and encouraged by music. Bagatelle was completed sixty-four days later on the 26th of November.


Raised Iris beds. Irrigation canals bring water to the beds from the fountain:


A carved stone fountain flows water into an oyster shell, spreading the water into the irrigation ditches.

The gardens themselves were created in subsequent years and under the direction of a number of designers and reflects different periods of garden design.


Lawns won't get cut until the "naturalized" bulb beds have finished

Visiting in April means that the spring flowers were at their best, and Dave has captured the essence beautifully. We wished we could have captured the aroma for your added pleasure, but you will have to use your imagination.


Stop and smell the... Clamatis


Guess what they're growing on the trellises? I'll bet you didn't guess APPLES! Yes, and they bloom, and bear fruit in October.

The rose garden is just beginning to show itself, and it would be worth the price of an airline ticket to visit it at it's best. There are 1100 roses shown at Bagatelle. 20 % are old roses introduced before 1920: Bagatelle is registered as a ' National collection of modern roses". My jaw was in a constant state of dropping and Dave finally had to drag me away.

1100 varieties of roses waiting for warmer weather.










Of course everything in Paris has a restaurant (the grocery department of Galleries Lafayette has TEN. I am NOT kidding, ten separate eating spots) and this one was the most elegant outdoor patios I've seen. Linen, crystal, and large plush chairs with giant tied bows on the backs. We would have given up our tupperware-contained lunch (carrots, etc.) but we had forgotten to wear our black tie and heels. Ces't dommage!

KA