Val de Marne
Roseraie
WHEN: June is the best month.
ARRIVE: Mid-morning
COST: Four euros
The Roseraie Val de Marne, located in L'Haÿ-les-Roses, France, is one of the world's most beautiful and historic rose gardens. Initiated by Jules Gravereaux at the end of the 19th century, the garden is home to over 11,000 roses and nearly 2,900 species, making it a must-visit destination for rose enthusiasts from all over the world.The history of the Roseraie Val de Marne dates back to 1894 when Jules Gravereaux, a wealthy French businessman and passionate rose collector, purchased a plot of land in L'Haÿ-les-Roses to cultivate his collection of roses. He began planting his collection of roses on the land, and soon the garden began to attract visitors who were drawn to the beauty and fragrance of the flowers.A Visionary
Jules Gravereaux
Gravereaux was not only a passionate rose collector but also a visionary who recognized the importance of preserving the heritage and beauty of the world's roses. He wanted to create a garden that would showcase the diversity and beauty of roses from around the world, and he began collecting roses from all over the world to add to his garden.
In 1900, Gravereaux established the Société Française des Roses, a society dedicated to the cultivation and preservation of roses, and he used the society's resources to continue to expand his collection of roses. He also established a theater troupe, which performed plays and operas in the garden, further increasing the garden's popularity and visibility.
By the early 20th century, the Roseraie Val de Marne had become a leading center for the cultivation and study of roses, and Gravereaux's collection had grown to over 8,000 rose varieties. The garden was visited by prominent figures from all over the world, including the famous American horticulturist and author Liberty Hyde Bailey, who called the garden "the finest collection of roses in the world."
Despite Gravereaux's success in creating one of the world's most beautiful and important rose gardens, the Roseraie Val de Marne faced many challenges over the years.
The garden was damaged during both World War I and World War II, and in the years that followed, the garden struggled to maintain its status as a leading center for the study and cultivation of roses.
Roseraie VAL DE MARNE
The olfactory power of roses. An outdoor living laboratory.In recent years, however, the Roseraie Val de Marne has experienced a renaissance, with new efforts underway to restore and expand the garden's collection of roses. The garden now hosts an annual rose festival, which attracts thousands of visitors from all over the world and celebrates the beauty and diversity of roses.
The garden's rose program includes not only a vast collection of historic and modern rose varieties but also a range of educational and outreach programs aimed at promoting the study and cultivation of roses. The garden hosts seminars and workshops on rose cultivation, and it has partnered with other organizations and institutions to develop research programs focused on preserving and promoting the world's roses.
In a didactic approach, the role of the collection gardens is also to make their heritage known not only to the general public, who are always curious to discover the history and extreme variability of this flower, but also to rose professionals in a unifying spirit and a scientific concern.
The Roseraie also has a key role in uniting rose collectors and specialists, with scientific work being regularly carried out by researchers. Hence the idea of making a computer file of its collections available to these well-informed audiences. The Val-de-Marne Departmental Council has thus worked on the creation of a digital collection management application listing precisely all the varieties planted at the Roseraie.
Guided tours are offered throughout the year.
Today, the Roseraie Val de Marne remains one of the world's most beautiful and important rose gardens, a testament to the vision and dedication of Jules Gravereaux and his commitment to preserving the beauty and heritage of the world's roses. With its extensive collection of roses and commitment to education and outreach, the garden is sure to continue to inspire and delight rose enthusiasts for generations to come.
A Revival
The 7 gardeners of the Roseraie du Val-de-Marne are proud to have revived the collection of “Madame Gravereaux.” With the planting of these 200 vines, they materialize the research work they carried out with the department's collection manager to renew this very first collection that Jules Gravereaux, founder in 1894 of the oldest rose garden in the world, developed and dedicated to his wife.
Their objective? To reconnect with the original spirit of this collection by presenting it according to a color gradient. They scrupulously selected the 50 varieties according to their aesthetic and agronomic qualities, including the rose Pierre Arditi ® 'Meicalanq' (white), Louis De Funès ® 'Meirestif' (orange), René Goscinny ® 'Meifrypon' (orange), Edith Piaf ® 'Meiramboysar' (red), and Eddy Mitchell® 'Meirysett' (Purple). This panel shows the extent of the know-how of French breeders and the varieties marketed. So, if you are stung by the desire to plant roses, come to the Roseraie for inspiration. And in May, without hesitation, come and witness the blossoming of a rainbow of petals ranging from white to pink.
