• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Home
  • Contact
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
Mad about Macarons
  • Recipes
  • French Food Guides
    • All Guides
    • Market Guide (fruit & veg)
    • Best Paris Tea Rooms
    • Food Travel From Paris
    • Paris Pâtisseries & More
  • About
menu icon
go to homepage
search icon
Homepage link
  • Home
  • About
  • Recipes
  • French Food Guides
    • Fruit & Veg
    • Paris Tea Rooms
  • Videos
  • Contact
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
  • ×
    Home • Blog Posts

    Lenôtre Tea Salon, Cour de Senteurs Versailles

    Published: May 8, 2015 · Modified: Sep 20, 2023 by Jill Colonna13 Comments

    As I stood there thinking about asking for some bread - or dare I say, brioche (incidentally, Marie-Antoinette never said that) - at the massive gates to the Château de Versailles, I realised that we could eat macarons and pastries instead, just next door.

    chateau de Versailles Main Gates

    Would you believe we live not far from Versailles and yet I've never visited La Cour des Senteurs? The courtyard has, however, not long been renovated and celebrates the history of perfume around the 18th Century. Thanks to my friend, Francis, I have now discovered a quiet sanctuary of fragrances just 100m meters away from one of the biggest tourists attractions in the world.

    Maison des Parfums Versailles

    The Cour (or courtyard) houses Guerlain, the perfumery that recently created an exclusive Eau de Parfum edition, called Cour de Senteurs to celebrate the opening here in Versailles. In the most pretty bottles, the perfume is exquisite, and includes Queen Marie-Antoinette's favourite fragrance, jasmine. As they describe beautifully,

    "...sharing the magic and splendour of the lavish balls held at the Château de Versailles, it's a sensual fragrance with a majestic trail in which jasmine leads the dance."

    Guerlain perfumery window in Versailles

    I'm new to beautifully scented candles and now that I've discovered the wonderful fragrances (including jasmine, mimosa, rose, fig, and red berries) around the Diptyque boutique, they're on my wish list.

    Irises at the maison des parfums versailles

    Fragrance houses also use spices, edible flowers and herbs - not just for their visual pleasure but a rich pleasure, marrying fragrance and taste. At the far end of the courtyard, tea and pâtisseries beckon as Lenôtre has a majestic tea salon, where you can eat outside (seats 30) or enjoy the classy interior (seats 20 for the tea salon, 40 for their restaurant for lunch). Their gourmet creations are inspired by the French gardens and the King's Vegetable garden.

    Macaron towers near Versailles palace France

    Lenôtre's Pastry chef, Guy Krenzer, Meilleur Ouvrier de France 1988 and 1996, added Jasmine flower to the filling of this Saveur Royal gold tinted macaron inspired by jasmine-loving Marie-Antoinette.  Alas, they're so popular they were out of stock of these delicacies when I was there.

    Macaron towers at Le Notre Versailles

    Instead three delicate macaron flavours were worth ordering with tea: pina colada, strawberry-ginger (I loved the after-taste of the spicy ginger!), and by far my favourite - chocolate-yuzu.

    Le Notre Tea Salon Versailles macarons

    What's the L7G at Lenôtre?

    I have always ogled that lovely macaron porcelain tea-set but note that little cube of chocolate, the "L7G".

    It has been in Lenôtre boutiques since September 2009 and as the name implies, it weighs 7 grams and partners dark chocolate with a coffee ganache.

    Le Shuss pastry at Le Notre Paris

    Lenôtre's Signature: le Schuss

    I couldn't resist trying the Schuss, which is a signature dessert created by Gaston Lenôtre in 1968 for the Winter Olympic Games in Grenoble, where Jean-Claude Killy made France proud with 3 gold ski medals. This is a revisited verrine version of his classic with red fruits, filled with joconde sponge biscuit and a light fromage frais mousse and served with a beautifully tart red fruit coulis.

    I'm no skier, and flying downhill at high speed scares the living daylights out of me but I certainly couldn't help enjoying its light freshness at full speed - Schhuuuusssss!

    Lenôtre tea salon Versailles

    Strawberry Tarts

    For something more classic to welcome spring and the French strawberry season, who can resist a tarte aux fraises? These are one of my favourite treats for goûter. See my strawberry tart with pistachio pastry cream.

    After teatime, take a stroll around the Cour des Senteurs garden. Plants are glass-cased like in an outdoor museum, complete with fragrance facts and perfumery notes. The walkway takes you to the Jeu de Paume Game Room (the predecessor of tennis, played by the court from 1686, now a French Revolution museum, open afternoons) and the Potager du Roi, or King's Vegetable Garden.

    Le notre at Versailles

    What a civilised teatime - although I still want to try these jasmine macarons, famous at La Cour des Senteurs and retrace Marie-Antoinette's jasmine dance at the ball. In the meantime, let's just continue with the macaron dance while watching their dainty feet form in front of the oven.

    Update 2018: Sadly, LeNôtre at this Versailles location is closed. Please see their website for Paris addresses. I have kept this post so that you can pop into the cour des senteurs next to the Palace.

    More Blog Posts

    • French pastry shop or pâtisserie in Saint-Germain-en-Laye near Paris
      Saint-Germain-en-Laye Chocolate Pastry Tour
    • outside restaurant looking on to marble statues in a basin with ducks
      Tuileries Garden - Guide to Food and Drink
    • Monet's house and gardens with roses and green shutters
      Giverny - Things to Do and Eat on a Visit to Monet's House and Gardens
    • Jill Colonna and Carol Gillott, home chef and artist both in Paris
      Sweet Paris Paintings on the Map
    • Share
    • Tweet
    • Email
    Jill Colonna standing in a French patisserie lab holding a giant whisk over an oversized mixer bowl

    Meet Jill Colonna

    Jill is both Scottish and French and author of the book and blog, Mad About Macarons since 2010. Here she shares over 30 years of experience of living the healthy food life with her French family in Paris - via easy recipes and local food guides in France.

    More about Jill

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

      Please leave a comment Cancel reply

      Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

      Made this? Rate this recipe...




    1. Ann

      May 16, 2015 at 12:52 am

      Love the Schuss dessert's onomatopoeic name!

      Reply
    2. Maureen | Orgasmic Chef

      May 15, 2015 at 8:30 am

      I would have preferred to go there than the palace at Versailles. Everything looks so good!

      Reply
      • Jill Colonna

        May 15, 2015 at 1:27 pm

        My kind of a girl - and of course, we'd walk to the King's vegetable garden afterwards for some shopping 😉

        Reply
    3. Henri

      May 09, 2015 at 8:28 pm

      Me too, re June's comment. Great blog!

      Reply
      • Jill Colonna

        May 10, 2015 at 3:55 pm

        Merci Henri!

        Reply
    4. Christina @ Christina's Cucina

      May 09, 2015 at 6:16 pm

      How on earth are you not overweight? I'm sure you are asked this all the time, but seriously, with all these beautiful treats around you all the time! I'd not fit through the door to my house! I think Paris is moving up the list as far as "places to go", especially if I keep following your blog! I think after my last visit 25 years ago, I'm due, though! 😉

      Reply
      • Jill Colonna

        May 10, 2015 at 3:59 pm

        Glad this is enticing you to come over, Christina. 25 yrs does need Paris "renewal", so keep me posted! Funnily enough I have a couple of pages about the French eating pâtisserie and managing to stay slim. Oh, and I don't stuff my face with cakes every day, you know. Although just about 😉

        Reply
    5. Liz

      May 09, 2015 at 4:54 pm

      Looks like the perfect spot for a bit of tea and something sweet! That strawberry tart looks marvelous---and I'll be checking out your yummy version, too!

      Reply
      • Jill Colonna

        May 09, 2015 at 5:37 pm

        I love this time of year when strawberries are in season again and tarts and éclairs and desserts can enjoy them. Thanks for popping in for tea, Liz!

        Reply
    6. Francis

      May 09, 2015 at 12:05 am

      Yes ! Nice place 😉
      Do not worry about the jasmine macaron, I'll find an other way to get it 😉

      Reply
      • Jill Colonna

        May 09, 2015 at 10:43 am

        Oh, goody!

        Reply
    7. June S

      May 08, 2015 at 9:51 pm

      Oh Jill, that little block of chocolate and the tarte aux fraises look just amazing. And the Perfumerie. Please take me to Versailles on my next visit.

      Reply
      • Jill Colonna

        May 08, 2015 at 11:11 pm

        Hey, I've found my first partner to return there! Yippee. Now, about that perfume ....

        Reply

    Primary Sidebar

    Jill Colonna standing in a French patisserie lab holding a giant whisk over an oversized mixer bowl
    BIENVENUE!

    Meet Jill Colonna

    Jill is both Scottish and French and author of the book and blog, Mad About Macarons since 2010. Here she shares over 30 years of experience of living the healthy food life with her French family in Paris - via easy recipes and local food guides in France.

    More about Jill
    moist banana bread with walnuts and freshly chopped figs

    SEASONAL

    Fall Recipes

    We're warming up for Autumn with easy fall recipes. From healthy family dinners, desserts with apples, to fall soup recipes, enjoy our best comfort foods from France.

    Autumn/Fall recipes

    Reader Favourites

    • high rise cheesy scones piled on top of each other, surrounded by rosemary and spring onions
      Fluffy Cheese Scones
    • fig jam with bread and cheese
      Corsican Fig Jam (Confiture de Figues)
    • oval dish with chicken in red wine and vegetables with a French baguette
      Coq au Vin (Chicken Casserole in Red Wine)
    • tray holding slices of toasted French toast or Pain Perdu in a boulangerie in France in front of baguettes
      Best French Toast Recipe (Pain Perdu)

    SPOTLIGHT

    Apples (Pommes)

    It's apple season! Get the fall of French apple recipes, the best varieties for baking/cooking, along with our fun French expressions using them.

    Apples

    Recent recipes

    • gluten free brownie squares topped with toasted almonds and hazelnuts on a French plate
      Gluten Free Brownies
    • moist banana nut bread made with ripe bananas, chestnut flour and walnuts
      Moist Banana Nut Bread
    • glazed round almond tart topped with toasted slivered almonds, a flower and French macarons
      French Almond Cake (Le Saint-Germain)
    • sweet pastry dough or pate sucree for a tart, pricking with a fork for even baking
      Pâte Sucrée - Sweet Pastry for Tarts
    pink restaurant in Paris Montmartre with fall leaves

    FOOD TRAVEL GUIDES

    Paris Food Guides

    Your sweet DIY online guide to Montmartre. With the best bakeries, pastries, chocolate and a little history.

    Sweet Montmartre
    pink cover of patisserie recipe book Teatime in Paris by Jill Colonna

    EASY FRENCH PASTRY RECIPES

    Teatime in Paris

    Get Jill's easy pastry recipes. From éclairs, tarts, macarons, to mille feuilles. Step-by-step baking techniques with many of the Parisians' best bakeries that make them.
    A must gift for all budding bakers and Paris-loving Francophiles.

    Get the book
    shiny little macaron cookies in a Paris store

    LOCAL GUIDES

    Best Macarons in Paris

    Want to try the best French macarons in Paris but mad at choosing?
    As a local for 30 years with 2 macaron recipe books, I’ve tasted a LOT to help you out!

    Top 20 Macarons
    blue recipe book cover for Mad About Macarons

    BESTSELLER

    Mad About Macarons

    Scared to make the first move to make macarons? Jill shares all the tips and step-by-step instructions in her bestselling recipe book (also in Dutch, Spanish and Hungarian). It has inspired many now-professional macaron bakers since 2010!

    Get the book
    Paris map Mad About Macarons

    BIENVENUE

    Newsletter

    Love good French food and the healthy lifestyle? Stay connected with the free newsletter from Paris.

    Sign Me Up

    Footer

    Jill Colonna logo Mad About Macarons
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • YouTube
    • Twitter
    • Recipes
    • About
    • French Food Guides
    • FAQ
    Contact
    Newsletter

    Copyright © 2010-2023 Jill Colonna

    Terms and privacy

    • Share
    • Tweet
    • Pin
    • Save
    • LinkedIn
    • Email