Almost at the same moment when late spring arrives in Paris as the days grow longer and warmer, roses burst into bloom through the city, putting on a dazzling display of vibrant colors and wafting their seductive perfume through the air.
For me, Paris's beautiful rose gardens provide a compelling reason to be in the city during May and June, although you can happen upon some roses blooming through December - always a lovely surprise as the colder days of winter approach.
Paris's love affair with roses dates back to the early 1800s when Joséphine, the first wife of Emperor Napoleon I, created a spectacular rose garden at Château de Malmaison located to the west of Paris.
Today, you'll find magnificent displays of roses in Paris's largest and most famous gardens such as Tuileries, Palais Royal Garden, Luxembourg Garden, and Jardin des Plantes, as well as in lesser-known smaller parks, gardens, and even private pedestrian-only passages. And of course, every florist shop in the city offers
In this article, I share some of my favorites places where you can see gorgeous roses blooming in gardens and other spots around central Paris, as well as a couple of other famous rose gardens on the city's outskirts.
Here's what you'll find:
- Paris's Most Famous Rose Gardens
- Lesser-Known and Hidden Rose Gardens
- A Few Unexpected Places to See Beautiful Roses
- Map Showing Rose Garden Locations
- Famous Rose Gardens near Paris
If you stop by some of these rose gardens while you're in Paris, I hope you love them as much as I do!
Top photo: Rose blossoms in Square Saint-Gilles Grand Veneur Pauline Roland, a hidden rose-filled oasis in the Marais, (c) Paris Discovery Guide®
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Paris's Most Famous Rose Gardens
Jardin du Palais Royal - A Romantic Hidden Garden near the Louvre
Jardin du Palais Royal dates back to 1633 when Cardinal Richelieu, a rich and powerful religious and civic leader closely aligned with King Louis XIII built himself an ornate palace directly across from the royal residence at the Palais du Louvre, with extensive gardens behind it.
About a century and a half later, King Louis Philippe II had apartment buildings erected around three open sides of the garden (the fourth abuts the palace, today occupied by the Ministery of Culture), with wide arcades supported by rows of columns on the ground floor facing the garden.
Behind the arcades, the crème de la crème of Parisian society could linger in shops and bistros, precursors to the covered passages which evolved following the 1791 French Revolution.
Today, you can still browse through the specialty designer boutiques, jewelry stores, and antique shops (although best for window shopping unless you have deep pockets) and enjoy a coffee at Cafe Kitsuné, a drink or snack at Muscade, or a gourmet meal at Michelin-starred Le Grand Véfour, which originally opened in 1784, or Le Restaurant du Palais Royal.
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Jardin du Palais Royal dates back to 1633 when Cardinal Richelieu, a rich and powerful religious and civic leader closely aligned with King Louis XIII built himself an ornate palace directly across from the royal residence at the Palais du Louvre, with extensive gardens behind it.
We'll start with the only place on this list that's actually a museum on this list, in case you want to say you've been to one.
Jardin du Palais Royal dates back to 1633 when Cardinal Richelieu, a rich and powerful religious and civic leader closely aligned with King Louis XIII built himself an ornate palace directly across from the royal residence at the Palais du Louvre, with extensive gardens behind it.
About a century and a half later, King Louis Philippe II had apartment buildings erected around three open sides of the garden (the fourth abuts Cardinal Richelieu's former palace, today occupied by the Ministery of Culture), with wide arcades supported by rows of columns on the ground floor facing the garden.
Jardin du Palais Royal dates back to 1633 when Cardinal Richelieu, a rich and powerful religious and civic leader closely aligned with King Louis XIII built himself an ornate palace directly across from the royal residence at the Palais du Louvre, with extensive gardens behind it.
Behind the arcades, the crème de la crème of Parisian society could linger in shops and bistros, precursors to the covered passages which evolved following the 1791 French Revolution.
Today, you can still browse through the specialty designer boutiques, jewelry stores, and antique shops (although best for window shopping unless you have deep pockets) and enjoy a coffee at Cafe Kitsuné, a drink or snack at Muscade, or a gourmet meal at Michelin-starred Le Grand Véfour, which originally opened in 1784, or Le Restaurant du Palais Royal.
Jardin du Luxembourg - A Centuries-Old Rose Garden in a Family-Friendly Spot
We'll start with the only place on this list that's actually a museum on this list, in case you want to say you've been to one.
We'll start with the only place on this list that's actually a museum on this list, in case you want to say you've been to one.
We'll start with the only place on this list that's actually a museum on this list, in case you want to say you've been to one.
Jardin des Plantes - A Modern Rosarie in France's Historical Botanical Garden
Although the Jardin des Plants in Paris's Latin Quarter originated in the 17th century, but its rosarie (rose garden) dates back only to 1990.
Although the rose garden is stunning beautiful with an elevated walk defined by rose-covered arches and classical sculptures, its purpose is practical.
Like the rest of Jardin des Plants, it's part of a botanical school where botanists from throughout France come for training. In keeping with its academic mission, it contains hundreds of species of roses and even rose trees.
Stroll along the paths and notice the kaleidoscope of colors created by the rose blossoms, seemingly artfully arranged.
As a casual visitor, you would never guess that the reason for the diversity of hues and forms is for teaching purposes, rather than solely for your viewing pleasure.
Although the Jardin des Plants in Paris's Latin Quarter originated in the 17th century, its rosarie (rose garden) dates back only to 1990.
Although the Jardin des Plants in Paris's Latin Quarter originated in the 17th century, but its rosarie (rose garden) dates back only to 1990.
Although the Jardin des Plants in Paris's Latin Quarter originated in the 17th century, but its rosarie (rose garden) dates back only to 1990.
Although the Jardin des Plants in Paris's Latin Quarter originated in the 17th century, its rosarie (rose garden) dates back only to 1990.
Although the Jardin des Plants in Paris's Latin Quarter originated in the 17th century, its rosarie (rose garden) dates back only to 1990.
Although the Jardin des Plants in Paris's Latin Quarter originated in the 17th century, its rosarie (rose garden) dates back only to 1990.
Rodin Garden
"Flamboyant" barely begins to describe the display made by the formal rose gardens flanking the entrance to Hotel Biron, the early 18th century rococo private mansion once used by August Rodin as his workshop and now the site of Musée Rodin.
You can see most of Rodin's most famous sculptures such as The Thinker, The Kiss, The Three Shades, and The Gates of Hell here, both inside the museum and outside in the spacious manicured gardens.
However, in May and June, the vivid-hued roses in the garden attract the most attention, especially on a sunny afternoon when you can take a leisurely stroll through the garden and spot a spectacular rose juxtaposed against a well-known structure in a way that makes you see both from a new perspective.
In the garden's background, you can also see the tops of two of Paris's most recognizeable attractions: the golden Invalides Dome (which contains Napoleon's tomb), the embodiment of late 17th century French Baroque design, and Gustave Eiffel's modernistic engineering wonder of the late 1880s, the Eiffel Tower, which no doubt Rodin observed as it was being erected.
Today, Rodin is considered a pioneer of modern sculpture because of the naturalism of the human bodies he sculpted in contrast to the more formal styles of the period.
Similarly, the garden's tapestry of multi-colored roses and billowing hydrangeas provide a naturalist contrast with the symmetry of the garden's design and a backdrop of formal conical evergreens.
Best Time to See the
Hidden Gardens
Square Saint-Gilles
One of Paris's most magnificent rose gardens, especially for year-round beauty, is also one of the most difficult to find.
One of Paris's most magnificent rose gardens, especially for year-round beauty, is also one of the most difficult to find.
One of Paris's most magnificent rose gardens, especially for year-round beauty, is also one of the most difficult to find.
One of Paris's most magnificent rose gardens, especially for year-round beauty, is also one of the most difficult to find.
One of Paris's most magnificent rose gardens, especially for year-round beauty, is also one of the most difficult to find.
One of Paris's most magnificent rose gardens, especially for year-round beauty, is also one of the most difficult to find.
One of Paris's most magnificent rose gardens, especially for year-round beauty, is also one of the most difficult to find.
One of Paris's most magnificent rose gardens, especially for year-round beauty, is also one of the most difficult to find.
One of Paris's most magnificent rose gardens, especially for year-round beauty, is also one of the most difficult to find.
National Archives Hidden Garden
We'll start with the only place on this list that's actually a museum on this list, in case you want to say you've been to one.
Flower Market
We'll start with the only place on this list that's actually a museum on this list, in case you want to say you've been to one.
We'll start with the only place on this list that's actually a museum on this list, in case you want to say you've been to one.
We'll start with the only place on this list that's actually a museum on this list, in case you want to say you've been to one.
Marché des Fleurs Location
37 Place Louis Lepine, Ile de la Cité; nearest Metro: Cité
More to See & Do Near Marché des Fleurs
Visit 3 of Paris's medieval masterpieces, all on Ile de la Cité: Sainte Chapelle, known for its stunning stained glass, La Conciergerie, a medieval castle-turned-prison where Marie-Antoinette spent her last days, and Notre Dame Cathedral, recently reopened and more beautiful than ever (get a free timed-entry ticket on the Cathedral's website to avoid standing in the very long "no ticket" line)
Promenade Plantée
We'll start with the only place on this list that's actually a museum on this list, in case you want to say you've been to one.
We'll start with the only place on this list that's actually a museum on this list, in case you want to say you've been to one.
We'll start with the only place on this list that's actually a museum on this list, in case you want to say you've been to one.
We'll start with the only place on this list that's actually a museum on this list, in case you want to say you've been to one.
Batignolles hidden passage
We'll start with the only place on this list that's actually a museum on this list, in case you want to say you've been to one.
We'll start with the only place on this list that's actually a museum on this list, in case you want to say you've been to one.
More Articles about Paris Travel
- What to do on your first day in Paris?
- Top Paris attractions
- How to skip the lines at Paris's most popular attractions
- Paris Museum Pass - How much money and time can you save with it?
- What to expect in Paris Hotels
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