Amy and I went to La Roseraie du Val-de-Marne the other day. It is “inscribed in the Supplementary Inventory of Historical Monuments” and boasts about its 11,000 rose bushes in the pamphlet. Pictures were bursting at brim with bright and full flowers. Was this rose garden as impressive as it sounds?
Not really.
Don’t get me wrong, the garden smelled awesome and not too overpowering. The garden also provided plenty of shade and quiet to escape the chaos of Paris. In comparison to other public gardens, however, it’s really not all that. Half of the garden was closed for construction, and the other half you could walk through was dead. The actual roses were far and few between, and for an hour and a half commute + entrance fee it was kind of a flop. The amenities also fell short. Amy and I had a rose slushie that literally tasted like a bottle of my grandma’s perfume. I would not recommend it to anyone, especially my fellow asthmatics.
You can take cute pictures in the rose garden, but if you’re visiting Paris, you would be better off visiting the Luxembourg or Tuileries gardens. These gardens are kept up a lot better, most likely due to their proximity to government/public buildings. In addition, more tax revenue from tourists funds public space within the city. These parks also provide nicer views and have a more diverse range of uses, for example, playgrounds and dining areas that the Roseraie lacks. It’s far from the city, so you get a change of scenery, but because it’s so far away, English speakers are less abundant as well as less effort going into the beauty of the park. Just stick to the Luxembourg garden, it’s free, has beautiful statues and flowers, and they have really good sorbet.
After seeing Luxembourg- what else can compare honestly? And with how big it is I feel like it’s one of the few places that there will always be space for you to enjoy.