Paris is brimming with gorgeous gardens – grand public parks and historic plots. The gardens of Paris are part of the culture and history of the city, some were created by Kings and Queens, even an Empress. The Most Beautiful Gardens of Paris by Stéphane Marie, French garden expert and television presenter, reveals the histories and secrets of twenty-five gardens, open-air museums that showcase the botanical diversity of Paris and around the city.
From the most famous gardens―Versailles, Luxembourg, or Tuileries – to the hidden leafy gems such as the Château de Saint-Jean-de-Beauregard vegetable gardens, the Bourdelle museum’s sculpture garden, or the Albert Kahn Japanese-style garden, this guide takes readers on a cultural tour of France through the most spectacular gardens in and around Paris.
The book includes details about the history and conception of each garden. It’s full of fascinating facts, together with cultural and botanical context. Practical details and insightful sidebars help visitors discover the notable features of each garden. Fabulous photography and illustrations are accompanied by a wealth of fascinating facts and botanical details offering the armchair traveller a dazzling virtual tour. Marie explains the origins of the garden’s name as well as the stories behind its sculptures, parterre gardens, botanical collections, fountains, and other follies as well as noteworthy plants, flowers, trees and more.
Discover how a wager between Queen Marie-Antoinette and an aristocrat led to the creation of a small chateau and gorgeous gardens in the heart of Paris – built in 64 days! Parks with beautiful cafés where you’ll as if you’re in the countryside. Greenhouses that contain amazing collections including one that has 60 varieties of citrus trees, and the incredible glass house of the Jardin des Plantes, where you’ll also find a historic zoo, created after the French Revolution to house the animals from the Palace of Versailles.
From vast parks to private gardens, communal plots to the grounds of historical monuments, this reference guide offers an extensively illustrated selection of the most exceptional gardens in and around Paris, including drawings and photographs along with opening hours, prices, and what to do when visiting. It’s a really useful guide to Paris that takes you beyond the usual.
A celebration of the most beautiful parks in and around Paris – total inspiration for where to while a few hours away in the heart of nature, history and culture, or for armchair travel, or to inspire your inner garden designer muse.
Extracted from The Most Beautiful Gardens in Paris by Stephane Marie (Flammarion 2024)
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