Paris1972-Versailles2003

I am back to my former home base area and wonderful to tell you about this place, I will be updating this older post with text and links for you and me. This is a nature’s heaven that should be visited at least once and is easy to get there from the palace. This is the Arboretum de Versailles-Chevreloup, actually in the new town of Le Chesnay-Rocquencourt, in my beloved Yvelines dept 78, of the Île de France region of my belle France, Please note before the French revolution this area was an integral part of the royal Domaine de Versailles since 1685, Louis XIV having acquired it to expand his private hunting domain, which covered a lot more land than today with a lot more dependancies.

The city limits has the extension of the Chateau de Versailles in its northern borders way beyond what you normally see at the Grand Canal, here the old domaine now greatly reduce gives way to a forest of trees, it is call the Arboretum de Chévreloup! Created in 1924 it gives you a tour of the world in trees covering an area of 50 hectares ( 123.5 acres). You will follow trails showing trees from far away regions as the Himalaya ,Europe, China,Japon,Caucausian range, USA, Canada, etc. You will find a trail of cedar trees from the Atlas mountains, Ecus ,Sequoias, maple syrup erables trees, sycomores,also fruit trees like prunes, apples,and flower trees like paulownias.

The park is divided into four thematic zones; the geographical zone with 120 hectares align by geographical area such as Americas, Asia, Europe etc. , the zone systematic in 50 hectares according to their botanical classification, the oldest trees open to the public; the zone horticulture in the center of the park with about 25 hectares of different varieties issue from an artificial selection, and the garden area of about 2 hectares where the trees are raised and exchange with other arboretums and botanical gardens.

The total area now open to the public is 200 hectares (494 acres) , preserving about 2 500 species of trees. An oasis in the area as Le Chesnay-Rocquencourt is just across the street from my Versailles. The best way to go there is from Versailles gare d’Europe bus depot by Ave Saint Cloud, take bus no 19 to stop Parly II/Arboretum, then just walk across the street.  If you are coming straight from Paris at gare château-rive gauche RER C station, walk to your right cross ave de Paris, past the Hôtel de Ville, and continue to avenue de l’Europe to next blvd which is the Avenue de Saint Cloud turn left and the bus 19 stop is right there.

With more than 2,500 species and varieties of trees which coexist and form the richest collection of trees in Europe, the Arboretum of Versailles-Chèvreloup is nevertheless a unique place, managed by the National Museum of Natural History and labeled “Garden remarkable “. From April for the cherry blossoms and magnolias, in the spring for the magnificent rhododendrons or the red chestnut trees or in the fall to discover all the trees in shimmering colors ranging from yellow to red.  Among the spots not to be missed, there are of course, the meadow of Japanese cherry trees, the planting of dwarf conifers, or the Lawsons maze a wandering among conifers with colorful foliage. Take a stroll around the remains of the hydraulic system that supplied the fountains of Versailles, such as the Chèvreloup Reservoir. The Arboretum offers for example a new 10 km route for traveling on 3 continents. A second route, called Île-de France, presents the main species of trees and shrubs native to Île-de-France region.

A bit of history I like, tell us that this park was acquired in 1699 by king Louis XIV that encloses with a wall and served as a hunting ground.  This garden was destroyed upon the death of king Louis XV. At the French revolution like everything else, the goods were confiscated, and the farm on the opposite end of Gally-Chèvreloup  (it is still there since 1741 ferme de Gally by St Cyr l’école! see post!) was sold to private persons. emperor Napoléon 1er buys the lands in 1806. By the 19C and early 20C, the bad maintenance and small spaces of the Jardin des Plantes in Paris made come up with an idea to use the collection of trees ,and in 1922 ; the conservator of the Domaine de Versailles ,and architect at the National Museum of Natural History named Chaussemiche  established a project called  “Le Jardin de Jussieu, annex du Muséum national d’Histoire naturelle” or the Jussieu garden annex to the National Museum of Natural History. The current park was created in 1927, while it was attach to the National Museum of Natural History.

The official Arboretum of Versailles-Chevreloup : https://www.arboretumdeversailleschevreloup.fr/en

The Versailles tourist office on the Arboretum : https://www.versailles-tourisme.com/arboretum-de-versailles-chevreloup.html

The National Museum of Natural History on the Arboretum: https://www.mnhn.fr/en/arboretum-de-versailles-chevreloup-arboretum-at-versailles-chevreloup

There you go folks, a nice detour indeed other than the obvious in the city of Versailles and thereabouts. This is an off the beaten path site that needs to be seen more, for the history and the nature all around it in a big City, The Arboretum Versailles Chevreloup is wonderful, Again, hope you enjoy the post as I.

And remember, happy travels, good health, and many cheers to all !!!