Les Jardins du Monde is one of the legacies that French banker and philanthropist Albert Kahn left behind. Located in Paris, France, the garden was created in 1895 by Kahn on the property in Boulogne-Billancourt that he had purchased in 1893. The garden, as it stands now, took about 30 years to be built. It rests on four hectares on the banks of the Seine. The garden features hundreds of plant species that includes rare varieties from 5 different continents, thus giving it its name Gardens of the World.
The Gardens of the World are not just gardens, they also include forests. The Great Forest truly captivates, and it made me forget that I was in a garden in Paris. It is composed of birch trees, cedar trees, conifers, and other deciduous trees. This forest resembles the Vosges Mountain region in France, which is near the place that Khan was born and grew up. The Golden Forest received its name from the yellow and golden hues of the spruce trees during the spring and the of the birch trees during the autumn. This forest is lined with a meadow of wildflowers. There is the Blue forest which has blue atlas cedars, Colorado blue pines, and a swamp.
The French Garden was constructed in 1895 by Henri and Achille Duchene, two prestigious landscapers at the time. This garden has an orchard with different types of fruit trees, rose bushes, various flower species, and linden and chestnut trees. The French Garden has a greenhouse that is made of iron and glass that is used for a winter garden. This garden follows the classical garden layout of the 17th century.
The English Garden is full of greenery and is made to “imitate nature”. The flowerbeds in this garden are beautiful. The Garden many rocks, waterfalls, and a stream that flows across the garden into little ponds. There is a cottage that is one of the original buildings and a fountain with a carved image of La Fontaine fable.
The Japanese village and garden were created in the late 19th century. The village has a tea house, two homes, and lanterns that were shipped from Japan all around. This garden was created by Fumiaki Takano. The garden is set to represent two things, the first being tradition and the second contemporary. Both of these symbolize Kahn’s project of embracing and preserving culture around the world. The garden also features a bright red bridge, pond with lily pads all over, and streams crossing the stone paths all over.
The Gardens of the World are a tribute to Kahn’s work around the world. As we learned from the Archives of the Planet, Kahn believed that the world could come together in a sort of utopia. The different sections of the garden from around the world symbolize the different perceptions that exist around the world. The fact that these gardens all coexist next to each other shows that the world could also achieve this harmony on a larger scale. The garden attracts many people from around the world and is a place that three local Parisians, couple Audrée and Patrice Bernstein and their friend Frédérique Duplime, like to go to relax. Kahn was successful in bringing cultures together through this garden. “There is an English garden, a Japanese garden, a French garden… a lot of mixed culture in this garden,” said Patrice Bernstein.
Albert Kahn’s property was taken after his bank went bankrupt. During the time Kahn would continue to spend his time at the garden, which was now public property. The garden is now part of the museum and requires a ticket for entry, however, people continue to come to the garden. “It’s fresh and there is a lot of beautiful plants. Most of all it is peaceful,” said Audrée Bernstein.
The Gardens of the World is the constant reminder that it is okay to be different from the environment that surrounds you. “It is a very beautiful place,” said Frédérique Duplime. Les Jardins du Monde is breathtaking, but the true beauty lies in the way that this garden continues to foster and promote culture by bringing people from around the world together in a peaceful environment.
Sources:
https://www.sortiraparis.com/arts-culture/walks/articles/220543-albert-kahn-museum-s-garden-takes-you-on-a-journey/lang/en
https://www.visitparisregion.com/en/albert-kahn-museum-gardens
Kessly Salinas is a rising senior at St. Edward’s University. She is majoring in Global Studies and minoring in Journalism and Digital Media.
