We take you to discover the Folie Saint-James Park in Neuilly-sur-Seine, a French 18th‑century landscape masterpiece that’s well worth a stroll. This picturesque park offers a journey through history and the beauty of nature.
The Parc de la Folie Saint-James is an architectural and historic gem to discover in Neuilly-sur-Seine in the Hauts-de-Seine. Set out to explore this splendid example of late 18th-century French landscape art and its quirky remnants.
The magnificent park spans 1.8 hectares and faithfully preserves the traces of a major work from the 1770s–1790s. This garden-theatre, conceived and created by François Joseph Bélanger, one of the era’s leading landscape designers, is a marvel to discover.
The park’s history is rich and eventful. Handed over to the state in 1952, it first served as a high school before suffering extensive damage in the 1999 storm. Reconstruction began in 2006 and by 2009 it had become the 20th departmental park of 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 Parc de la Folie Saint-James:
- Le pavillon: this classical-style building still preserves its original features, such as the courtyard paving, the splendid wrought-iron railing along the staircase, and the trompe-l'œil murals in the vestibule.
- Le parc: despite changes over the years, several notable structures have endured. One can admire the grand ashlar stone bridge, the ancient column, and the two stone vases that once adorned one of the bridges.
- Le Jardin clos Art déco et le Temple de l’Amour: these additions from 1925 will charm you with their elegance and atmosphere.
Did you know? Here are three quick anecdotes about the park you should know:
- The "Folie" and the Royale Competition
In 1777, the Count of Artois, who would become Charles X of France, hired architect François-Joseph Bélanger to build a "foli e" – a grand, extravagant pleasure palace – 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, grew envious and pressed Bélanger to craft an even grander folly. To flaunt his taste for opulence, the baron’s brief to the architect was blunt: “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 turn of the 20th century, the new owners decided to restore the property and reshape part of the remaining grounds in an Art Deco vein. They created a walled garden featuring a Temple of Love, a Moor-inspired rectangular pool, and a rose garden. In the course of these renovations, however, they dismantled some of the original structures, like the ice house and the street kiosks. This renovation marks a major transformation of the Folie and its park, blending history with modernity.
- Toulouse-Lautrec’s Stay
In 1899, the renowned painter Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec stayed at the Folie Saint-James. At that time, the Folie had been converted into a sanatorium by Dr. Casimir Pinel, a specialist in nervous disorders and nephew of Philippe Pinel, a pioneer of modern psychiatry. Toulouse-Lautrec’s visit to the Folie Saint-James adds a further splash of artistic prestige to the estate’s already rich story.
How about a visit to the Parc insolite de la Folie Saint-James à Neuilly-sur-Seine. Located at 34, Avenue de Madrid, the park is open to the public. Immerse yourself in this incredible work of landscape art and let it transport you through the centuries.
