Paris is a rich city, full of treasures, and gardens are part of it. Even in such a large and crowded city, Paris has many secret gardens where to smell the flowers, a true luxury.
Let Parisien born and raised Laurence, from Paris Toujours, who specialises in putting together theย best tours in and around the City of Love, introduce you to some of those secret gardens in Paris that even genuine Parisians have never heard about.
1.ย The garden of the Romantic Life Museum
Romantic Life museum
When you stroll in the south Pigalle (the so-called โSo-Piโ) district in the 9th arrondissement, there isย a private mansion with two artist workshops and a lovely secret garden. This property is called “Museum ofย the Romantic life”.ย Located in rue Chaptal, in the โNew Athenaโ area, this museum is the former houseย of Ary Scheffer, a famous French painter. He used to receive the artistic Parisian elite in this building. Delacroixย was his neighbour, Chopin also visited him and used to play the piano for the guests. From mid-Marchย to mid-October, you can have a cafรฉ and a cake at the garden tea room. A perfect place for lovers thatย want to have some intimacy in the heart of a very lively district.
Romantic Life Museum 9th arrondissement
2.ย The garden of the Abbesses
Abbesses garden
Located in the 18th arrondissement of Paris, 5 minutes from the Sacrรฉ Coeur, this garden is maybe theย smallest of all. Peaceful and away from the crowd, it was the garden of an old Abbey built during theย 12th century. It is organised in squares and is full of medicinal plants. The garden is totally hiddenย from the street, thatโs the reason why it remains quiet all day long. You need to go through theย โPassage des Abbessesโ to access it.
Open every day from 3pm to 7:30pm, times can vary depending on theย seasons.ย Abbesses Garden 18th arrondissement
3.ย The garden Saint-Gilles Grand Veneur-Pauline Rolland
Saint Gilles grand veneur garden
A complicated name for an incredible garden. Located in the heart of Paris, more precisely in Leย Marais district, the garden is totally hidden from the street and you need to access it from a passageย located on 12 rue Villehardouin. But if you are courageous enough and walk through this unwelcomingย access, you will discover one of the most romantic gardens inย Paris.
The garden is full of roses and other flowers, it is surrounded by private mansions and will leave you inย awe with its variety of plants, flowers and colours.
Open every day from 8am to 8:30pm.ย Square Saint-Gilles Grand Veneur, 4th arrondissement
4.ย The garden of the National Archives
Archives garden
Le Marais district has plenty of little secret gardens. Near the Place des Vosges, the garden of theย National Archives is a very good place to spend a sunny afternoon in a lovely and cozy garden. Itย is divided in 2 areas: the Rohan Hotel garden, where you can picnic on a beautifulย lawn besides the private mansion itself byย the trees, andย a more romantic area, with ferns,ย little rivers and trees from various countries.
Accessible from the 60 rue des Francs-Bourgeois and open every day except Tuesdaysย from 10am to 5:30pm.ย National Archives garden 4th arrondissement
5. The Elysรฉe garden
Palais Elyseฬeย ยฉ Paris Tourist Office – Photographer : Claire Pignol
Last but not least, the Elysรฉe Garden might be the most difficult garden to access in Paris. Everyย French personย has heard about the Elysee Palace being the the French Presidentโs Residence but veryย few have had the occasion to go into the garden.ย The Elysรฉe Garden is one of the most fantastic gardens in Paris, but the rules to access it are veryย strict. You must be dressed-up (no shorts nor flip-flops!), and have the right. Unfortunately visit isย restricted to only once a month. It is located at the 55 rue du Faubourg Saint-Honorรฉ in the 8 theย arrondissement of Paris.
Open to the public only the first Sunday of every month from 11am to 7pm.ย Palais de l’Elysรฉe
Featured photo from Kosala Bandara