King's Kitchen Garden
Presentation
Built at the request of Louis XIV, the site of the École nationale supérieure de paysage, the Potager du Roi, is open to visitors. Classified as a historic monument and listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, it hosts a rich programme of events
The King's Kitchen Garden
Historic site of the École nationale supérieure de paysage
The Potager du Roi, the historic site of the École nationale supérieure de paysage, covers 9 hectares in the heart of Versailles. It is a masterpiece of the art of the regular French garden with a productive vocation. Built between 1678 and 1683 by Jean-Baptiste de La Quintinie at the request of Louis XIV, it is classified as a Historic Monument and Remarkable Garden. It is an integral part of the Versailles estate, which is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Since the 17th century, its gardeners have been perpetuating the art of pruning and cultivating a wide variety of fruits and vegetables.
Accessible to visitors only since 1991, the Potager du Roi is today the historic site of the École nationale supérieure de paysage, which ensures its conservation, management and development. In the context of current transitions, this link allows it to assert a strong identity as a precursory place since its creation: the Potager du Roi indeed pursues a production activity in an urban environment oriented towards short circuits, an experimental approach of new cultivation techniques, such as agroecology, and a real involvement in training, research and creation.
Programming
During the summer months, visitors can discover a rich and varied programme of cultural events at the Potager du Roi: dance, exhibitions, theatre, concerts, etc. regularly take over the garden. The Plastique Danse Flore festival, for example, offers an annual encounter with contemporary creation, while the Mois Molière allows visitors to (re)discover a classical repertoire staged in an exceptional setting, and Les Saveurs du Potager promotes the diversity of fruit and vegetable production. In connection with the ENSP's teaching and research, the Potager du Roi is also a reference venue for scientific symposiums, workshops and conferences, open to professionals and the general public.
Visits, workshops and training in the garden
Every weekend from April to October, group visits with lecturers are offered to discover the richness of the site. A wide range of workshops and training courses, such as the Art of Bonsai, Embellishing and Cultivating a Garden and Floral Art, are open to the general public.
Loyalty programme
The Potager du Roi has unlimited access thanks to an annual membership card, which also offers a range of discounts at the site's bookshop.
Volunteering at the Potager du Roi
Volunteers are welcome to participate in a range of activities at the King's Garden. A programme has been set up to help with maintenance work on the site, gardening work and activities to welcome visitors and organise events.
The bookshop
The site's boutique-library sells fruit and vegetables from the Potager du Roi as well as processed products - juices, jams, honey, coulis, etc. - and by-products such as cosmetics made from plants from the Potager. Fresh products are available according to the seasons and the weekly markets. The specialised bookshop has more than 800 references of books and magazines in the fields of gardening, ecology, agriculture and landscape.
Historic site of the École nationale supérieure de paysage
The Potager du Roi, the historic site of the École nationale supérieure de paysage, covers 9 hectares in the heart of Versailles. It is a masterpiece of the art of the regular French garden with a productive vocation. Built between 1678 and 1683 by Jean-Baptiste de La Quintinie at the request of Louis XIV, it is classified as a Historic Monument and Remarkable Garden. It is an integral part of the Versailles estate, which is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Since the 17th century, its gardeners have been perpetuating the art of pruning and cultivating a wide variety of fruits and vegetables.
Accessible to visitors only since 1991, the Potager du Roi is today the historic site of the École nationale supérieure de paysage, which ensures its conservation, management and development. In the context of current transitions, this link allows it to assert a strong identity as a precursory place since its creation: the Potager du Roi indeed pursues a production activity in an urban environment oriented towards short circuits, an experimental approach of new cultivation techniques, such as agroecology, and a real involvement in training, research and creation.
Programming
During the summer months, visitors can discover a rich and varied programme of cultural events at the Potager du Roi: dance, exhibitions, theatre, concerts, etc. regularly take over the garden. The Plastique Danse Flore festival, for example, offers an annual encounter with contemporary creation, while the Mois Molière allows visitors to (re)discover a classical repertoire staged in an exceptional setting, and Les Saveurs du Potager promotes the diversity of fruit and vegetable production. In connection with the ENSP's teaching and research, the Potager du Roi is also a reference venue for scientific symposiums, workshops and conferences, open to professionals and the general public.
Visits, workshops and training in the garden
Every weekend from April to October, group visits with lecturers are offered to discover the richness of the site. A wide range of workshops and training courses, such as the Art of Bonsai, Embellishing and Cultivating a Garden and Floral Art, are open to the general public.
Loyalty programme
The Potager du Roi has unlimited access thanks to an annual membership card, which also offers a range of discounts at the site's bookshop.
Volunteering at the Potager du Roi
Volunteers are welcome to participate in a range of activities at the King's Garden. A programme has been set up to help with maintenance work on the site, gardening work and activities to welcome visitors and organise events.
The bookshop
The site's boutique-library sells fruit and vegetables from the Potager du Roi as well as processed products - juices, jams, honey, coulis, etc. - and by-products such as cosmetics made from plants from the Potager. Fresh products are available according to the seasons and the weekly markets. The specialised bookshop has more than 800 references of books and magazines in the fields of gardening, ecology, agriculture and landscape.
Opening day(s)
Exceptionally closed : Wednesday 01 May 2024
Exceptionally closed : Wednesday 25 December 2024
All year long 2025
Every day
10:00 to 18:00
General information
- Visites :
- Average group visit length (minutes) 90
- Average individual visit length (minutes) 90
- Type of culturel patrimony :
- Park and garden
- Visit :
- Guided tours
- Educational visits
- Themed tour
- Tour free of charge
- Shop :
- Shop
- themes :
- Garden
- Botanical garden
LIBELLE_EQUIPEMENT_SERVICES
- Leisure facilities :
- Picnic area
- Parking :
- Car park
- Parking
- Individual tour services :
- Guided individual tours on request
- Unguided individual tours available permanently
- Group tour services :
- Guided group tours on request
- Unguided group tours available permanently
- Entertainment :
- Children's entertainment
- Temporary exhibition
- Handicrafts workshops
- Activity
- Shows
- Concert
- Theatre
Accessibility
- Accessibility criteria for people with reduced mobility :
- Accessible for wheelchairs with assistance
Prices
| Prices | Min | Max |
|---|---|---|
| 01/01/2024 - 31/12/2024 | ||
| Full price | 5.00€ | |
| Reduced price | 3.00€ | |
| Student | 3.00€ | |
| Job seeker | 3.00€ | |
| Group adults | 135.00€ | |
| Set price group adults | 200.00€ | 260.00€ |
| Set price group children | 105.00€ | |
- Payment methods :
Contact
King's Kitchen Garden
10 rue du maréchal Joffre
78000
Versailles
Phone : +33 1 39 24 62 62
Fax : +33 1 39 24 63 38
- Spoken language(s) :
