The Rose Garden of Val-de-Marne, in L'Haÿ-les-Roses, lies at the heart of the departmental park of the same name. Some 16,000 rose bushes of more than 3,000 different species and varieties flourish in this exceptional setting of international renown. The Rose Garden of Val-de-Marne, listed on the Supplementary Inventory of Historic Monuments and awarded the Remarkable Garden (Jardin Remarquable) label, was the first garden to be built for the purpose of growing roses.
Jules Gravereaux, a specialist in the cultivation and study of roses, began designing his masterpiece in 1894. Roses that yielded a large amount of essence were of particular interest to him, with a view to making perfume, and he created two varieties. In 1914, the town of L'Haÿ was renamed L'Haÿ-les-Roses.
The remarkable collection proudly displays its scents, shapes and colours. Wild roses mingle with cultivated roses, old rose varieties with more common ones, local roses with those from further afield. As you wander along the paths, you can learn about the evolution of the rose throughout history, from the simple flower to its use in garden design. Covering more than a hectare, thirteen unique collections will take you on a journey through time and space, with roses from all over the world and all eras, from the tea rose to the burnet rose and Far Eastern roses. The roses climbing up a majestic dome, surrounding a water mirror, are extremely elegant.
Its collection of old roses, some of which are no longer found in gardens, is one of the largest in the world. During the flowering season, from mid-May to mid-September, rose lovers will be treated to a dazzling, poetic spectacle that will delight all their senses. A painting competition is held on the site every year and, at weekends, orchestras regularly perform music for visitors to enjoy during their stroll...
