Audio GuideParc Bagatelle - la Roseraie
An 18th-century landscaped park & chateau, with a Chinese-style pagoda, waterfalls & peacocks.
Parc de Bagatelle - the Rose Garden is a delightful hidden treasure in Paris, ideal for those who enjoy a blend of history, art, and nature. Nestled in the sixteenth arrondissement on an expansive twenty-five hectare estate near the Bois de Boulogne, this park was established in an astonishing sixty-four days following a bold bet between Marie Antoinette and the Comte d'Artois back in seventeen seventy-five. François-Joseph Bélanger produced the design in just one night, and Thomas Blaikie brought it to life, combining intriguing Anglo-Chinese style with rococo elements. Within the park, visitors can explore unique structures like a temple of philosophy, a Chinese pagoda, and a hermitage.
Throughout the nineteenth century, the park gained more treasures, including an orangery, stables, and picturesque pavilions. Later, Sir Richard Wallace expanded the grounds, and it became part of the city of Paris in nineteen oh five. In nineteen oh seven, Charles Voisin marked a milestone in aviation history by making the first mechanical flight there.
Nowadays, visitors are captivated by the renowned rose garden, which features approximately ten thousand roses in around one thousand two hundred varieties. The annual international rose contest adds to its allure. Regular exhibitions and cultural events further showcase its impact on literature and television.