Rodin’s Sculpture Garden: A Harmonious Surprise in Paris

I seek out gardens wherever I go. Whether it's a grand, historic landscape or a hidden pocket of green in an urban setting, the way a space is designed and planted has the power to shape an experience. So, on a visit to Paris in 2019, I made time for a stop at the Musée Rodin, expecting to admire the masterful sculptures of Auguste Rodin. What I didn’t expect was for the garden itself to steal the show.

This is a controversial take, but the experience of Rodin’s garden left an even deeper impression on me than the gardens of Versailles. Yup, you read that right. Now, don’t get me wrong—Versailles is every bit the masterpiece I had anticipated, and it absolutely delivered on its grandeur. But perhaps because my expectations were sky-high for Versailles and considerably lower for Rodin’s garden, the impact of the latter was all the more striking. This space is a gem and a must-see for anyone visiting Paris.

Rodin’s garden is a study in harmony. It follows the formal structure so often found in French gardens—neatly clipped beech hedges forming strong architectural lines, guiding the eye and framing the sculptures within. But what sets it apart is the interplay of naturalistic plant textures within this structured framework. Layers of soft, repeating foliage create a sense of rhythm, their movement and subtle variation counterbalancing the straight-edged formality of the beds. The result is an experience that feels simultaneously structured and organic, soothing yet dynamic. It’s a space that invites you to slow down, observe, and absorb.

The sculptures, of course, delivered awe—Rodin’s ability to capture raw emotion in bronze is undeniable. Seeing The Thinker in its garden setting was an unforgettable moment.

But it was the garden off the back of his studio house that created the atmosphere, that made the experience feel immersive rather than just observational. It provided a backdrop that felt more like a living, breathing extension of the art rather than a stage upon which the sculptures were merely displayed.

This balance between order and nature, between the built and the organic, is something I find myself drawn to again and again in landscape design. It’s no easy feat to create a space that feels both intentional and effortless, but the Rodin garden achieves it beautifully. If you have the chance to visit Paris, make sure this garden is on your list—you may find yourself as captivated by it as I was.