The King, of course, wanted to eat well. To ensure this, he established the Potager du Roi, or the King's Kitchen Garden. This large garden was designed and developed from 1678-1683, at the request of King Louis XIV. The site was added to the national list of Hisrotic Monuments in 1926.

Today it is part of the École nationale supérieure de paysage, which is essentially the school of landscape architecture.

If you need a rest from the crowds and the gold of Versailles, consider a stroll through the Potager. The entrance is just across from the Cathédrale St-Louis, just a short walk from the Château. It's a lovely spot to wander and enjoy beautiful vegetation and peace and quiet.

One of the specialties of the Potager is espaliered trees, and you will see lots of them. Some are tall and skinny, others broad and wide, and still others shaped into cones or circular patterns. Some are displayed along walls, while others flow along wires, receiving sunlight from all sides; this technique is contre-espalier. Who knew?

In addition, the garden grows historical fruits and vegetables such as those the kings might have enjoyed. The brochure notes that Jean-Baptiste de La Quintinie, the creator and first gardener, was an expert at growing fruits and vegetables outside of their regular season, allowing him to present the King with asparagus in December or strawberries in March. Agricultural work today focuses on plant rotation, biodiversity, and more, helping the garden thrive.

One delight was looking through the King's Gate at the back of the garden (yes, there is some gold here) and seeing the lovely and peaceful "Swiss Water Piece." This strangely named spot is a beautiful lake that was excavated in 1678 by the Swiss Guards, who created the lake. It is the second largest water feature at Versailles, after the Grand Canal. The work was strenuous, and many of the Swiss Guard died of malaria and other diseases.

Swiss Water Piece on a lovely summer afternoon.

Popular with with the locals, including picnickers, school groups, dog walkers, and more, the Swiss Water Piece is another quiet retreat when you want to get away from the court. Although you can't access it from the Potager, you can easily get there from the rue de l'Orangerie, which, as you might guess, is where the Château's Orangerie is. The Water Feature is not on the château grounds, but just across the street. (map)

The Potager has a small cafe at the back where you can enjoy a cool drink, an ice cream, a pastry, or other snack. And in season you may be able to buy some of the produce of the garden!

---

Château de Versailles Versailles Gardens Hotels & Apartments Versailles Transportation About Versailles Grandes Eaux Musicales Notre-Dame Market Versailles Flower Market Excursions from Paris