We introduce you to the Parc de la Folie Saint-James in Neuilly-sur-Seine, a French landscaped masterpiece from the XVIIIᵉ century that's well worth a stroll. This picturesque park offers you a plunge into history and the beauty of nature.
The Parc de la Folie Saint-James is an architectural and historical gem to discover in Neuilly-sur-Seine in the Hauts-de-Seine. Head over to explore this splendid example of late 18th-century French landscape art and its unusual remnants.
The magnificent park covers an area of 1.8 hectares and carefully preserves traces of a major work from the 1770–1790 period. This show garden, conceived and created by François Joseph Bélanger, one of the era’s leading landscape architects, is a marvel to discover.
The park’s history is rich and eventful. Granted to the State in 1952, it initially housed a high school before absorbing significant damage in the 1999 storm. Reconstruction began in 2006, and by 2009 it had become the 20th departmental park of the Hauts-de-Seine. In 2016, after 15 months of work, the park was inaugurated and is now open to the public.
What to discover at Folie Saint-James Park:
- The Pavilion : this neoclassical building still preserves its original features, from the courtyard paving to the splendid wrought-iron stair railing and the stunning trompe-l’œil in the foyer.
- The Park : despite the changes over time, some famous structures have weathered the tests of history. You can admire the “grand stone bridge,” the “ancient column,” and the two stone vases that used to grace one of the bridges.
- The Art Deco Walled Garden and the Temple of Love : these additions from 1925 will charm you with their aesthetic and atmosphere.
Did you know? Here are 3 tidbits to know about the park:
- The "Folie" and the Royal Competition
In 1777, the Count of Artois, the future Charles X of France, hired architect François-Joseph Bélanger to build a "folly"—a grand, extravagant leisure building—in the Bois de Boulogne. Claude Baudard de Vaudésir de Sainte-James, a wealthy baron and financier who already owned a mistress house in Neuilly-sur-Seine, was spurred by jealousy and asked Bélanger to create an even more spectacular folly. To showcase his appetite for opulence, the baron’s blunt brief to the architect was: "Do whatever you like, as long as it’s expensive."
- The Restoration of Art Deco
After the Folie Saint-James was sold to the Lebel family at the start of the 20th century, the new owners decided to restore the property and transform part of what remained of the park in an Art Deco style. They created a walled garden with a Temple of Love, a Moorish-inspired rectangular basin, and a rose garden. Yet in carrying out these improvements they demolished some original structures such as the icehouse and the kiosk on the street. This renovation marked a major phase of transformation for the Folie and its park, blending history with modern touches.
- The stay of Toulouse-Lautrec
In 1899, the famed painter Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec stayed at the Folie Saint-James. At that time, the Folie had been converted into a health house by Dr. Casimir Pinel, a specialist in nervous disorders and nephew of Philippe Pinel, one of the pioneers of modern psychiatry. Toulouse-Lautrec’s sojourn at the Folie Saint-James adds a note of artistic prestige to an already rich property history.
What if you headed to the Parc insolite de la Folie Saint-James à Neuilly-sur-Seine. Located at 34, avenue de Madrid, access to the park is free. Immerse yourself in this remarkable landscape art and let yourself be transported through the centuries.
