Potager du Roi undergoes major restoration near Versailles

The Potager du Roi, a historic nine-hectare garden located near the Palace of Versailles, is undergoing an ambitious restoration program described as a ‘chantier du siècle’ (project of the century). Originally commissioned by Louis XIV and created by Jean-Baptiste de La Quintinie between 1678 and 1683, the site was built on marshy land and irrigated by the Swiss water feature.

Today, the site serves multiple roles: it is a historical garden, a biological production site, and a living laboratory for landscape architecture. It functions as the campus for the École nationale supérieure de paysage, where it is used for training, experimentation, and the transmission of agricultural expertise. Current efforts include replanting fruit trees, restoring built heritage, and opening the site to the public.