Cour des Senteurs

La Cour des Senteurs (The Scent Courtyard) is a newly opened area in Versailles, France, dedicated to the culture of perfume, which is one of the important cultures in France.

It was opened in 2013 after the renovation of a former historical area nearby the Palace of Versailles.

It is composed by several shops and restaurants in a courtyard, and two gardens.

Location
100m from the Palace of Versailles at 8, rue de la Chancellerie, Versailles, France.

It can be accessed from either la rue des Récollets, beside the former Recollects Convent, or la rue de Fontenay from le Jardin des Récollets.

Structure of la Cour des Senteurs
The group of buildings in this area are leaning against the former Recollects Convent.

Cour des Senteurs (courtyard)

Behind the entrance, several prestigious brands and restaurants receive visitors in the courtyard.

Small green square

There is a small green square which explains the histories of the famous perfumes on display with some samples of raw materials. This area can be visited directly from the side entrance at la rue des Récollets.

Jardin des Récollets, « Jardin des Senteurs »

This park, accessible from the square, was once a part of the domain of the Recollects convent, found behind of la Cour des Senteurs. It was opened in 2001 as a public park by Etienne Pinte, Deputy-Mayor of Versailles. Later on, for the project of la Cour des Senteurs, the city asked Nicolas Gilsoul , architect/landscape architect, to create a new design this garden. It is consequently called "Jardin des Senteurs".

La Cour des Senteurs represents a meeting of culture, history and nature combined.

Origin of the area
The building at the entrance was an extension of a property owned by Philippe de Courcillon, marquis de Dangeau. Then it had been affected by the body guard officers of Count of Provence, Louis XVIII.

Construction of the original building started in 17th century, the extension being added in the 19th century.

In 1930, the building was registered in the Monuments historiques (national heritage site in France).

In 2013, la Cour des Senteurs was inaugurated as one of the projects of l’Année Le Notre (Le Notre Year).

"The first Court which had been a part of the first city project in 1685, planned by Le Notre and Le Vau for the area around la place d’Armes, became an isolated island forgotten and degraded through the centuries." explained François de Mazières, Deputy-Mayor of Versailles. The City of Versailles launched the project "la Cour des Senteurs" to represent an urban crossing between la Place d’Armes and the Saint-Louis area.

Restoration of la Cour des Senteurs
Project owner: City of Versailles

Architect: For the initial plan of "Maison des Parfums", an exhibition space of the perfume history, Philippe Pumain, architect and museographer, in collaboration with Elisabeth de Feydeau (fr), historian of perfume. (Maison des Parfums was replaced by a food service space in 2018.)

The buildings surrounding the court have been modified for receiving visitors.

"The over-hanged structure of the display window has been modified, because here we don’t have enough pedestrian area in la rue de Chancellerie, although we need to attract and invite the maximum visitors into this public space. Two extensions inside of the court have been also demolished. Finally, the front side of la Maison des Parfums has been restructured with an image of the perfumes shop of former period". described Philippe Pumain.

Historical site of Saint-Louis area
Several other historical sites in walking distance are:
 * Salle de Jeu de Paume (Royal Tennis court)
 * Cathédrale Saint-Louis (Cathedral of Versailles)
 * Potager du Roi (King’s Kitchen garden)
 * Parc Balbi (Park of the Comtesse Balbi)

Collaboration
Certain organizations collaborate for events taking place in la Cour des Senteurs:
 * ISIPCA (Institut Supérieur International de la Parfumerie, Cosmétique et Aromatique Alimentaire)
 * Osmothèque, Conservatoire International des Parfums