Absolutely stunning places in Île-de-France, there are plenty to discover. Castles, churches, arboretums, artist homes, and so much more. Today, we’ve been charmed by a lovely abbey. Located in the heart of the Ermenonville forest, the Chaalis estate offers a simply breathtaking setting, complete with a castle, an orangerie, the old royal abbey, and especially a rose garden spanning 3,500 m² that will take your breath away. It’s the perfect destination for the upcoming May holidays!
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A Bit of History
It was in 1136 that King Louis VI, known as The Fat (because, after all, not everyone can be called the Sun King), founded the royal abbey of Chaalis. Very quickly, it became an important economic and intellectual center, hosting many kings of France over the centuries. In the 19th century, the property, which had become national property during the Revolution, was transformed into a hunting estate, before being purchased by Nélie Jacquemart (yes, like the museum in Paris, it’s the same one), who bequeathed it to the Institut de France.
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Today, the estate boasts a magnificent chateau, which houses the Jacquemart-André Museum of Chaalis – where part of the couple's collections can be found – an orangery, and the sumptuous Sainte-Marie chapel, where Nélie Jacquemart rests according to her final wishes. But what truly makes this estate special is its incredible park, classified as a "remarkable garden", which features a breathtaking rose garden.
The rose, queen of flowers, takes center stage
As early as the 19th century, part of the estate was transformed into a flower garden, surrounded by a beautiful stone wall. However, it wasn't until 1998 that this area was turned into a rose garden by the landscaper André Gamard. Covering 3,500 m², the garden is a true gem.
strong>, this last one is divided into 4 squares which house about a hundred varieties of roses, including some very old and very rare ones. Almost half of them are climbing roses, which adorn the arches and other pergolas placed all around the rose garden.Voir cette publication sur Instagram
To celebrate this beautiful garden of Eden, the abbey has been organizing the "Rose Day" every year for over 20 years. This annual event brings together more than 15,000 visitors and hundreds of exhibitors of all kinds: horticulturists, nurserymen, rose growers, artists, and craftsmen. And the good news is that, since the event takes place every year in early June, it’s not too late to join in on the 2025 edition, which will happen over the weekend of Pentecost, on June 6, 7, and 8!
Address: Dom. de Chaalis, 60300 Fontaine-Chaalis, France
