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 marvel to be discovered in Neuilly-sur-Seine in the Haut-de-Seine department. Come and discover this splendid example of late 18th-century French landscape art and its unusual remains.
The magnificent park covers an area of 1.8 hectares and carefully preserves the traces of a major work of the 1770-1790 period. This show garden, conceived and created by François Joseph Bélanger, one of the greatest landscape architects of his time, is a marvel to behold.
The park has a rich and eventful history. Ceded to the State in 1952, it was first used as a high school before suffering extensive damage during the storm of 1999. Reconstruction began in 2006 and, in 2009, it became the 20ᵉ Parc Départemental des Haut-de-Seine. In 2016, after 15 months of work, the park was inaugurated and is now open to the public.
To discover in the Parc de la Folie Saint-James:
- The pavilion: this classical-style building still retains its original features, such as the cobblestones in the courtyard of honour, the splendid wrought-iron banister on the staircase and the magnificent trompe-l'œil in the vestibule.
- The park: despite changes over time, some of the most famous buildings have survived. You can admire the "large stone bridge", the "antique column" and the two stone vases that once adorned one of the bridges.
- The Art Deco Walled Garden and the Temple of Love: these 1925 additions will charm you with their aesthetics and atmosphere.
Did you know? We reveal 3 anecdotes about the park:
- The "Folie" and the Royal Competition
In 1777, the Comte d'Artois, future Charles X of France, hired architect François-Joseph Bélanger to build a "folie" (a large, extravagant leisure building) in the Bois de Boulogne. Claude Baudard de Vaudésir de Sainte-James, a wealthy baron and financier who already owned a mansion in Neuilly-sur-Seine, was piqued by jealousy and asked Bélanger to build him an even grander folie. To illustrate his desire for opulence and luxury, the Baron's request to the architect was simple and powerful: "Do what you want, as long as it's expensive."
- The Art Deco Restoration
After the sale of Folie Saint-James to the Lebel family in the early 20th century, the new owners decided to restore the property and transform part of what remained of the park in the Art Deco style. They created an enclosed garden with a Temple of Love, a Moorish-inspired rectangular pool and a rose garden. In the process, however, they demolished some of the original structures, such as the ice house and the street kiosk. This renovation represents an important phase in the transformation of La Folie and its park, a blend of history and modernity.
- Toulouse-Lautrec's stay
In 1899, the famous painter Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec stayed at Folie Saint-James. At the time, the Folie had been converted into a nursing home by Dr. Casimir Pinel, a specialist in nervous diseases and the nephew of Philippe Pinel, one of the pioneers of modern psychiatry. Toulouse-Lautrec's stay at Folie Saint-James added a touch of artistic notoriety to the property's already rich history.
Why not visit the unusual Parc de la Folie Saint-James in Neuilly-sur-Seine. Located at 34, avenue de Madrid, access to the park is free. Immerse yourself in this incredible work of landscape art and let yourself be transported back through the centuries.
