Come, I'll take you to the wind, I'll take you above people... And I want you to remember, Our Earth is eternal, And not artificial! Excuse our lyrical flights of fancy, but once you've discovered the Remarkable Gardens in this guide, you'll want to escape every weekend.
Hidden or well-known, public or private, the forty Jardins Remarquables in the Ile de France region have a "je-ne-sais-quoi" that makes them unique. Through their history, their upkeep and the sculptures introduced into them, these gardens exude an aura that exudes happiness. You go there, you come back and you want to embrace nature, yes, really. Dubious? We'll take you there.
Le Jardin de l'Ecole du Breuil (75)
Perhaps the most unusual and little-known of all Parisians is the garden of the Ecole du Breuil, the botanical school of the city of Paris. In the Bois de Vincennes, just a few minutes from the capital, tens of thousands of plants from all over the world flourish in over 23 hectares of educational spaces! And to look after them, dozens of specialists and over 300 botanical students from the Ecole de Breuil come to learn all the secrets of flowers. Today, 6 hectares of gardens are open to the public, including the English garden, the rose garden, the fruticetum, the lawn (formerly the students' sports field), the library and the rock garden.
Parc Floral (75)
Created in 1969 for the Troisièmes Floralies Internationales, the Parc Floral de Paris is an ever-changing landscape, a unique place for observation and, above all, relaxation for lovers of floral art and green walks. Since 1998, it has been one of the four gardens of the Jardin Botanique de Paris, with collections of national and international interest (irises, camellias, rhododendrons, etc.) accredited by the CCVS (Conservatoire des Collections Végétales Spécialisées).
Parc de Bagatelle (75)
This sublime historic park is one of the 4 sites of the Jardin Botanique de la Ville de Paris. It is home to a dozen horticultural collections, including the famous rose garden, as well as many remarkable trees. It is also a venue for exhibitions, and several music festivals are held here every year.
Le Jardin du Moulin Jaune ( 77)
Owned by the clown Slava, the Moulin Jaune and its vast 4-hectare grounds stage a quirky, wonderful and colorful universe. You'll find yellow chairs floating above your head, a pagoda, a levitating black house and a whole host of experiments. The Jardin du Moulin Jaune is only open on a few key dates during the year, for large, colorful and lively festivals. It's a breath of fresh air just a few kilometers from Paris.
Le Jardin de la Pépinière du Point du jour (77)
The Point du Jour nursery-garden is a 7-hectare haven of peace, with a few surprises here and there. The latest addition, a metal and stained-glass chapel, stands in the middle of nowhere, like a nod to the end of time. Numerous sculptures in scrap metal and other salvaged materials take us by surprise during a bucolic stroll. It's an unusual stroll, one that leaves its mark on time.
La Roseraie de Provins ( 77)
The medieval town of Provins is well worth a visit, and its 450-variety rose garden is a little nugget not to be missed. Ancient and modern roses battle it out, but the Provins rose easily wins out among the 3.5 hectares of roses. The rose garden isn't just a garden, it's a veritable labyrinth with little bridges, a stream and a tea room! It's a great way to let time fly, 80km from Paris.
Le Parc du château de Breteuil (78)
Château de Breteuil is part of a 75-hectare estate overlooking the Chevreuse valley. It features a formal garden, a labyrinth and a romantic park in a fairytale setting that offers a wide range of activities for the very young. The highlight of the visit is the castle's wax figures, created by the Musée Grévin, which depict moments from French history or Perrault's fairy tales.
The grounds of Château de Rambouillet (78)
The historic gardens of Château de Rambouillet, which today cover almost 150 hectares, are classified as Jardins Remarquables and maintained with a view to protecting the environment. They can be explored on foot, but also by bicycle, rosalie, rowing boat or electric buggy.
The Domaine de Versailles (78)
In 2005, the Domaine national de Versailles was one of the first to be awarded the "Remarkable Garden" label, one year after its creation by the French Ministry of Culture, making it one of the leaders and pilots of the project in France.
Le potager du Roi (78)
Built at the request of Louis XIV, the site of the École nationale supérieure de paysage, the Potager du Roi, is open to visitors. Classified as a Historic Monument and Remarkable Garden, it is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and hosts a rich program of events throughout the year.
The Domaine de Courances (91)
The Domaine et Château de Courances, located in the Gâtinais region of Essonne (91), is a wonderful place to discover. Classified as a Historic Monument and Remarkable Garden, this site welcomes you every weekend and public holiday from April to early November. We take you on a tour of this verdant haven of peace.
The Potager de Saint-Jean de Beauregard (91)
The highlight of a visit to the Domaine de Saint-Jean de Beauregard is the gardens, and in particular the potager, which reveals some botanical marvels. Thetwo-hectarefully enclosed kitchen gardenis representative of French-style flower gardens, classified as a historic monument in 1993 and awarded the "remarkable garden" label in 2005.
Le Jardin de l'Ile Verte de Chatenay-Malabry (92)
Located in the Domaine départemental de la Vallée-aux-Loups, l'île Verte is a property with a distinctive garden dating back to the 1820s. It was the home of writer Marcel Arland and painter Jean Fautrier, before being purchased by the Hauts-de-Seine departmental council. In total, 56 hectares of land belong to the Hauts-de-Seine departmental council, grouped together under the Vallée-aux-Loups park.
Les murs à pêches de Montreuil (93)
Montreuil's 34-hectare "murs à pêches " are part of the town's historic heritage, and are the focus of much attention. To protect them, the Mission Patrimoine has pledged substantial financial support for these special "murs à pêches". To understand their value, you need to know what we're talking about. In Montreuil, in the 17th century, horticulturists and winegrowers decided to grow peaches and grapes in the Ile de France region, and decided to build walls to nail trees to, which would then be kept glued to the walls. But why? To protect them from the wind and the cold, and so regain the warmth of the South. Production ceased in the 1970s, but the walls have been protected and restored.
Le Jardin de Campagne de Grisy les Plâtres ( 95)
Nathalie and Joël Becq's Grisy les Plâtres garden is another private nursery. On their estate 30km from Paris, these flower lovers produce many varieties of plants, including rare specimens, and sell them to enthusiasts. Their garden is a beautiful universe, with a dovecote, an 18th-century octagonal pond and the old steward's house, remnants of a former estate overlooking fields of wheat and rapeseed, as well as the Vexin nature park.
Le Potager-fruitier du Château de la Roche-Guyon (95)
The Potager-fruitier at La Roche-Guyon was created in 1697. After the Revolution, it lost its French-style layout, but regained it in 2004 after a century of neglect. Today, it's the largest kitchen garden in Ile de France after the Potager du Roi at Versailles. It comprises 4 large squares, each with 8 triangles, giving 32 plots around which 675 fruit trees are grown: plum, peach, pear and apple trees mingle with vegetables and herbs. In 2011, the garden was awarded the " Jardin remarquable" label (one of only 6 in France).
More great ideas? Discover the full list of remarkable gardens in Ile-de-France.
