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Garden · Versalhes, Ilha de França
Potager du Roi
Luís XIV’s kitchen garden, created by Jean-Baptiste de La Quintinie between 1678 and 1683 to supply the king’s table. It still produces fruit and vegetables, cultivated by a landscape-design school.
Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.
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About Potager du Roi
The Potager du Roi, the king’s kitchen garden, was created between 1678 and 1683 by Jean-Baptiste de La Quintinie, who was in charge of the royal orchards and gardens, at the request of Luís XIV. The idea was to supply the court’s table and, at the same time, have a pleasant garden to stroll through. The king visited the garden and followed La Quintinie’s techniques for harvesting out-of-season fruit.
The layout remains the same: a large central square with vegetable beds and a reflecting pool, surrounded by terraces and small walled gardens, where the walls retain the sun’s heat and protect the fruit trees. There are hundreds of varieties of apples and pears, many trained as espaliers, tied to the walls in geometric shapes.
Since 1991 the site has housed the École nationale supérieure de paysage, the national landscape school, which manages production. Fruit and vegetables harvested there are sold in the little shop at the entrance in season.
The Potager is in the Saint-Louis neighborhood, a short walk from the Cathédrale Saint-Louis, begun in 1743 in a classical style, which is worth a look on the way.
Before you go
Practical information
Cidade Turismo reviews its information regularly, but something may have changed. Check with the place before planning your trip.
How much time to set aside
From 45 minutes to 1h30.
Best time
From April to October, when it is open Tuesday to Sunday and the gardens are in production; apple and pear harvests usually run from August to October. From November to March it is open only Tuesday to Friday. Closed on Mondays. Check opening times before you go.
How to get there
It is on rue du Maréchal Joffre, in the Saint-Louis neighborhood, about a 10-minute walk from the palace and Versailles Château Rive Gauche station.
Tip
It’s a good place for a Monday morning, when the palace is closed but the town remains open: check first whether the Potager is open that day. Take advantage of the entrance shop to buy seasonal fruit.
Get your questions answered
Frequently asked questions about Potager du Roi
Is the Potager du Roi part of the palace?
No. It is outside the palace grounds, in the Saint-Louis neighborhood, and has its own ticket and opening hours.
When is the best time to see the vegetable garden?
From April to October, when it also opens on weekends. Fruit harvests usually run from the end of the European summer, in August, through October.
Can you buy what is produced there?
Yes, at the little shop by the entrance, which sells seasonal fruits and vegetables harvested at the Potager itself. Availability depends on the season.