The Parc Balbi of Versailles !!!

Posted in France, Versailles

This is again my dear Versailles and a nice park often on the off the beaten path trail as most folks go to the palace. However, as I have said many times, Versailles is a lot more than the palace. The Parc Balbi has a nice history and wonderful family park. There is so much to see here,and you need to give it more time, get out into the town and see wonderful sights. Versailles is my former home for those new to my blog.  I like to tell you a bit about a nice park which been there with the family on picnics and just hanging around, Glad to found me another picture in my cd rom vault that should be in my blog for you and me. Therefore, here is my take again on the parc Balbi of Versailles !!! Hope you enjoy the post as I.

The Parc Balbi is an English-style park, located next to the Potager du Roi or King’s Garden (see post) ,and back of it the Piéce d’eau des Suisses or pond,(see post) all in the Saint Louis district of Versailles, dept 78 Yvelines of the Île de France region of my belle France. It is part of the historical heritage of the city and very often overlook by visitors, but a wonderful park to visit as well.  You will go to very narrow old streets of old Versailles, the park itselt is 2,6 hectares ( 6.4 acres) and you access it by 12 rue  du Maréchal Joffre. One of my family’s favorite while living there and visited afterward, Even if pictures are hard to find ! 

This property was built in 1785 by the Count of Provence, brother of Louis XVI and future Louis XVIII, for his favorite Anne de Caumont La Force, Countess of Balbi. When the pavilion was destroyed in 1798, the land returned to the Hôtel Letellier ,today the Lycée Jules Ferry or high school, before being made available to the School of Horticulture in 1914. A wild and poetic landscape, still punctuated by its river and its lake, even if nothing remains of the buildings, the park still retains its belvedere and its vast grotto which is appreciated for its calm. Today, it also delights families in a green environment characteristic of 18C English gardens. A pleasant garden accessible to the public free of charge.

After the French revolution, many owners passed by the park until finally in 1828 it is sold to the State.  By 1872, the Great Seminary buys the garden and does works of renovation and conditioning. In 1907 the school Jules Ferry is located here and a door had access to the Potager du roi.(see post), In 1914 the park is given to the horticulture school., and with the coming of WWI the park is left abandoned, until 1930 again it is renovated.  During WWII the park is again abandoned until 1960 a new plan of renovation takes effect.  Finally in 1982 the park is open to the public all done. It has a cave original from its creation in 1786 deep in the forest of the park, to reach it from the Potager du roi only. Very nice area.  It is open during the school holidays in the area, and normally Saturdays, Sundays, and Mondays from 9h to 17h, sometimes later in summer. This park belongs to the Palace of Versailles and is in agreement with the city of Versailles for its maintenance.

The Versailles tourist office on the Parc Balbi: https://www.versailles-tourisme.com/parc-balbi.html

The Yvelines dept 78 tourist office on Parc Balbi: https://www.destination-yvelines.fr/parcs-et-jardins/parc-balbi/

There you go folks, this is in a nice area of my Versailles, very residential. It is of course, worth the detour me think, Again, hope you have enjoy this post on the parc Balbi of Versailles !!! as I.

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

Unknown's avatar

Published by pedmar10

I am a lover of travels to Europe , Americas , Africa and Asia as well ,who like to share my experiences of the last 53 years with the world, visiting so far 81 countries; living in 6, working in 5, and Citizen of 4, speaking fluently 4 languages. I can deal with sports especially football/soccer and love music, arts, wine collector/drinker, and go out to restaurants, and just visit the world. My background comes all the way from Candelaria and Pajara in Tenerife, Spain where my grandparents came from ;not knowing each other then, to Punta Brava, west of Havana, Cuba. There , my parents born in Cuba met and later on I was born there too. 100% guanche (annexed Tenerife to Spain on April 10 ,1496). I left Cuba as many have to Madrid, Spain where I lived for 4 years. Then, move to Perth Amboy ,New Jersey USA (living there 13 yrs) ; where I completed high school, became a US Citizen, learned to drive a car, and learned English. Afterward, went to the university in Florida, ERAU, and upon graduation decided to moved there to Ormond by the Sea, near Daytona Beach, finally moving North Miami, then Hialeah, then another moved to Silver Lakes division in Miramar, Broward county, Florida; in Florida I lived a total of 18 years. Finally , moved to France in 2003 ,Versailles call me for its royalty, and working in Paris was great. It was time to seek frontiers again and moved to Brech near Auray, Morbihan in Brittany , and later move to not too far Pluvigner. Total so far in France has been 20 years, and counting. Moving average a home every 5.5 years hopefully this will be my last. Cheers All rights reserved. No part of this blog may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means or stored in a retrieval system of any nature, without the written permission of the copyright holder, me. No part of this work may be modified, without the written permission of the holder, me.No part of this work may be exposed to public view in any form or by any means, without identifying the holder as the author, and with the before mentioned permission.

Leave a comment

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.