Allée Royale, Garden path in Versailles, France

The Allée Royale, also called Tapis vert, is a 335-metre-long and 40-metre-wide lawn in the gardens of Versailles, between the Latona Fountain and the Apollo Fountain. It is bordered on both sides by a path and slopes gently, aligning the horizon with that of the Grand Canal. Twelve statues and twelve vases, many from the French Academy in Rome, line the lawn.

This garden section was developed in the late 1600s and received sculptures as part of its design enrichment. Many of the works came from art collections and were strategically positioned along the path.

This path embodies French formal garden design with its geometric order and symmetrical arrangement still visible in the placement of statues and vases today. Visitors can discover mythological figures carved in stone lining the walkways throughout the length of the allee.

This path is wider than most garden trails and offers plenty of room to walk, with the green center section providing natural orientation. Both sides have paved areas if you need to escape the sun or want a different perspective on the sculptures.

The sculptures are split by side: the north row holds La Fourberie, Junon, Hercule et Télèphe, the Vénus Médicis and Cyparisse et son cerf; the south row holds Faune au chevreau, Didon, Amazone and Achille à Skyros. The Vénus Médicis, by Michel Monier and Nicolas Frémery (1687), reproduces the antique owned by the Medici; Louis XIV kept five copies of it.