Roseraie de Bagatelle, Rose garden in Bois de Boulogne, Paris, France

Roseraie de Bagatelle is a rose garden in the Bois de Boulogne holding about 9,500 rose plants of some 1,100 varieties, among them species and cultivars of Rosa wichuraiana and Rosa luciae hybrids. A straight pale gravel path runs between low boxwood hedges and arched trellises covered in pink and red roses, opening onto geometric beds with a large cone-shaped shrub and open metal trellises.

Paris acquired the property in 1905 and transformed it from productive land into a botanical collection garden. This redesign by a renowned landscape architect created the foundation for the specialized rose project that followed.

The gardens host one of Europe's oldest international rose competitions, drawing breeders and gardeners for more than a century. This event has made the place a meeting point for people passionate about rose cultivation.

The garden is typically open throughout the day, with extended hours during warmer months from April to September. Early morning visits offer the best light for photos and a quieter experience among the plants.

The garden holds one of France's five rose collections labelled "collection nationale" by the Conservatoire des collections végétales spécialisées. Among the roughly 9,500 rose plants of about 1,100 varieties are species and cultivars of many hybrids of Rosa wichuraiana and Rosa luciae, a detail most visitors walk past.