The Queen’s Grove at the Palace of Versailles is an ornamental garden that was designed for Queen Marie-Antoinette in 1776. The plot was created as a flower garden with predominantly North American varieties that were new to France at the time.
The Queen’s Grove was designed for Marie-Antoinette to have a secluded place to walk, away from Palace visitors. The landscaping reflected the tastes at that time for gardens, combining French and English styles. The design was a simple, elegant layout that featured the Virginia tulip tree, white fringe tree and Carolina silverbell.
Unfortunately, the garden deteriorated considerably during the 19th and 20th centuries. The Palace is planning a restoration of the garden to begin in winter 2019. The garden will aim to replicate the original layout and botanical diversity.
Restoring the Queen’s Grove recreates a symbol of the French-American friendship. The French-American Cultural Foundation will be leading a fundraising program with U.S. citizens who are interested in making a tax-deductible contribution to this effort. Please contact us if you would like to make a donation toward restoring this beautiful piece of French-American history.