Roses, wisteria, waterfalls and peacocks… Yes, in Paris.
You may already know of some beautiful gardens in Paris, but have you ever heard about the Parc de Bagatelle?
Located in the west of Paris, in the 16th arrondissement, the Parc de Bagatelle isn’t very famous among tourists and travellers. It is mostly known by the locals of that area, who are older people and families with children.
However, here I am telling you that you have to visit this beautiful fairytale garden.
The park is at the heart of the Bois de Boulogne, a forest where you can walk around, jog, meet up with friends, row on the lake and so on. To enter the Parc de Bagatelle, you have to pay a small entry fee – 2,50€ for a standard entry, 1,50€ for reduced tickets. In the autumn and winter months, entry to the park is free.
The Parc de Batagelle is divided in several beautiful areas, making it the perfect place for a long weekend walk. Among these areas, don’t miss the rose garden, the grotto and water lily pond, the pagoda surrounded by peacocks and the rusty but oh-so-charming pergola. At the lily pond, walk into the grotto to find yourself behind the waterfall.
The best time to visit the rose garden in between mid-May and early June. I visited on June 6, 2022 and the roses looked lovely and smelled wonderful.
To me, the pergola is the most photogenic spot in the Parc de Bagatelle. On the map, it is located at the “Jardin des curiosités”. I love that the pergola is old and rusty; it’s surrounded by trees and bushes. A fairytale spot if I ever saw one!
The best time to visit the Parc de Bagatelle would be between April and July, months during which the garden comes alive with flowers blooming all around: daffodils, irises, wisteria, roses… A feast for the eyes!
The Parc de Bagatelle is also home to a pretty castle called the Folie d’Artois – a small, pink pavilion built in 1777. Indeed, the original land was bought in 1775 by the Count of Artois, and the Parc de Bagatelle (which was smaller at the time than it is today) was built in 64 days only, following a bet between the Count and his sister-in-law, Queen Marie-Antoinette. These guys knew how to have fun!
Today, the parc is biggest thanks to additions over time – for example the rose garden. Even though it’s a bit of a treck from Paris, I highly suggest visiting the Parc de Bagatelle. Bring a picnic and a camera, and you could easily spend the day there!