Unknown for most of the Parisians the elegant Jardin des Serres d’Auteuil is a botanical garden located at the southeastern edge of the Bois de Boulogne in the 16th arrondissement of Paris. The small garden is wedged between the Roland Garros tennis complex and the Parc des Princes stadium. With its botanical collections the Jardin des Serres d’Auteuil is the only place in Paris to discover a remarkable diversity of plants.
The Jardin des Serres d’Auteuil
The Jardin des Serres d’Auteuil consists of a complex of impressive conservatories part of the four botanical gardens managed by the City of Paris (Jardin Botanique de la Ville de Paris) along with the Parc de Bagatelle, the Parc Floral de Paris and the Arboretum de l’École du Breuil.
A botanic garden was originally created on the site in 1761 under Louis XV who designed a garden decorated with flowerbeds and greenhouses.
The present-day turquoise blue greenhouses were designed in cast iron between 1895 and 1898 by architect Jean-Camille Formigé. Covering 3 hectares the Serres d’Auteuil aimed to showcase exotic flora. Tropical plants are found in the greenhouses and temperate-zone plants grow in the surrounding beds.
The greenhouses grow about 100,000 plants per year that are used to decorate the interior of Paris’ municipal buildings. Each one of them are temperature controlled to create the ideal climate for the plants they shelter.
The Entrance
The entrance of the Jardin des Serres d’Auteuil is marked a fine wrought iron gate flanked by two Classical style pavillons: the West and East pavillons.
The Japanese Garden
The small Japanese garden with its scree and stone lantern.
The Balustrade
On each side of the terrace are two curved lanes which slope gently down to the central lawn. Rare roses and peonies grow along the balustrades. The pilasters that decorate the retaining walls of the terrace feature 14 mascarons sculpted by Auguste Rodin.
The central lawn
The central lawn consists of a formal garden (jardin à la française) which is bordered by the West Plateau and the East Plateau greenhouses. The South end of the huge French-style parterre is marked by the Dalou Fountain whose medallion depicts the Triumph of Bacchus. Behind it stands the monumental Palm-House (Palmarium). Elegant china-looking garden vases are scattered along the edges.
The Palm-House
The Palm-House (also known as Palmarium) offers luxuriance, calm and voluptuousness. The aery cast iron structure resembles a glass cathedral and is intended to give plants light and heat. Built in the 19th century, the Belle Époque greenhouse houses exotic tropical plants that came by steamship. This tropical environment also feature a small pond with Japanese carps and a small aviary.
The Tropical Greenhouse
Adjacent to the Palm House, the 19th century greenhouse was designed like a winter garden or cabinet of botanical curiosity. It houses plants that share a similar and harmonious need for light, moisture and warmth: banana-trees, coffee bushes, papaya-trees…
The Orangerie Greenhouse
Recently renovated the Orangerie Greenhouse will be reopen to the public in June 2016.
The English Garden
Situated to the West of the park, the English garden contains beautiful trees and heather earth plants.
Square des Poètes
This relatively small garden features small stones on which have been engraved verses from famous French poets. In the centre stands a statue of Victor Hugo by Rodin.
Practical information
- Entrance to the Jardin des Serres d’Auteuil is free
- The closest métro stations are Porte d’Auteuil (line 10 to the direction of Boulogne-Pont de Saint-Cloud) or Michel-Ange Molitor (line 10 to the direction of Gare d’Austerlitz).
- More photos of the Jardin des Serres d’Auteuil.
- More practical information about the Jardin des Serres d’Auteuil and how to get there (in French).
