Discover the South Parterre

Overlooking the Great Orangery, the South Parterre was the subject of large-scale restoration operation undertaken in 2024 with a view to preserving its green embroidery of boxwood hedges laid out to form foliates scrolls,, palmettes and arabesques, and recreating its original appearance.

A HISTORIC PARTERRE

The South Parterre is one of the three Grand Parterres in the Palace of Versailles' immediate surroundings, along with the Water Parterre to the west and the North Parterre. Created by the landscape architect André Le Nôtre in 1661, the Parterre was initially laid out between 1663 and 1664 on a terrace overlooking the firts Orangery designed by Louis Le Vau, and then doubled in size in 1687 following the construction of Jules Hardouin-Mansart's Great Orangery.

Le parterre du Midi (2025) © EPV, Thomas Garnier

The Parterre is crossed by a north-south axial pathway planted with topiaries, on either side of wich two central pools are each surrounded by four compartments. The flowerbeds in each compartment shpae the boxood embroidery motifs into foliated scrools, pamettes and arabesques, against a mineral background composed of ochre-hued crushed brick and black Golzinne marble. The compartments are bordered by boxwood-lined beds containing shaped pieces of turf and flowers, interspersed with topiaries and other trimmed shrubs.

During the first phase of the restoration, the overall composition was implemented : general earthworks with provision of new topsoil in order to limit health concerns, installation of the battens delimiting the boxwood borders and flowerbeds, planting of the topiaried yews and refurbishment of the paths and walkways around the pools.

The entire plant layout has been remodelles with a view to restoring the elegance and structure that have been the Parterre's hallmarks since its in the 17^th century. The parterre's green embroideries have also been restored :

Positioning of motif design markers
Planting of boxwood hedges and first pruning : earthworks, addition of topsoil, provision and planting the box tree, phytosanitary treatments and watering
Placement of mineral substrates : grog (crushed bricks) and Golzinne black marble chips