Saxon Rhapsody for the Versailles Orchard

A Saxon apple variety will also ripen in the fruit and vegetable garden of Versailles Palace near Paris in future. Prime Minister Michael Kretschmer presented French President Emmanuel Macron with a "Rhapsodie columnar apple tree" during his visit to Moritzburg Castle on Monday, as government spokesman Ralph Schreiber reported. The tree from a nursery in Kreischa, south of Dresden, is to be planted in the royal gardens of Versailles. Kretschmer had visited the Potager au roi 2023 privately with his family.

The "King's Kitchen Garden" was created in the 17th century by order of "Sun King" Louis XIV and supplied the Versailles court with fruit and vegetables. More than 160 apple and 140 pear varieties as well as quinces and peaches can be found on the preserved nine-hectare site.