Mario Bautista
2. Parc de Bagatelle, Paris 16e
The timeless Parc de Bagatelle is located north of Bois de Boulogne. Some consider it to be the most beautiful garden in the capital, but the jury is still out. However, its rose garden and history certainly make it the most unique garden in western Paris. What is now Pare de Bagatelle was once the site of a lodge that was used during royal hunting parties. In the 18th century, during the reign of Louis XV, it was purchased by Maréchal d’Estrées and became popular with libertines: members of the nobility indulged in frivolous leisure at extravagant parties held in this lush setting hidden from view. In 1775, the Count of Artois, Louis XVI’s brother and the future King Charles X, acquired it. Two years later, Queen Marie Antoinette set him the incredible challenge of building a new residence there in less than 100 days. In the end, he succeeded in just 64 days with the help of architect François-Joseph Bélanger and 900 labourers. The Château de Bagatelle is the epitome of a folly – a type of small building that wealthy aristocrats built on a whim, with no regard for cost. The estate went through several different owners who enlarged the château, expanded the gardens, and built an orangery. It was purchased by the city in the early 20th century. After years of neglect, the estate was restored and remodelled by Jean-Claude-Nicolas Forestier, custodian of Bois de Boulogne, who turned it into the delightful botanical garden that welcomes visitors today. He also created the large rose garden, which is famous among flower enthusiasts throughout the whole of Europe.
The rose garden
The rose garden in Parc de Bagatelle is one of the largest and most beautiful of its kind in France, with more than 1,200 varieties spread over four acres (1.6 ha). Established in 1905 by Jean-Claude- Nicolas Forestier, the garden continues to evolve, year after year. Originally, the flowers were largely presented in uniform beds. Today, the gardeners experiment with other compositions by using a range of cultivated and wild roses, including rose bushes, climbing or ground-cover roses, and roses winding around arches or shrubs. Depending on the variety and the weather, the roses bloom between early summer and November. But the best time to admire them is in June, at the International Competition of New Roses. Since 1907, this event has awarded prizes to recently created roses-three for their beauty and one for its fragrance. During the competition, the flower candidates are displayed in the presenters’ garden, which was specially designed for this purpose, and the park’s gardeners give advice to enthusiasts.
