Sentier des Petits Pois

Did Louis XIV have a secret weapon? He did. It was the humble pea. Here at the Sentier des Petits Pois in Clamart, we celebrate that unlikely connection. The Sentier des Petits Pois isn’t just a path. It’s a tribute to Clamart’s rich agricultural past, a time when this area was renowned for its delicious peas. Legend has it that King Louis XIV, the Sun King himself, developed a taste for these tiny green spheres. Introduced to him from Italy, they quickly became a royal favorite. He had them planted in his gardens at Versailles. Their popularity spread, taking root here in Clamart. The peas grown here were so prized that they were sent daily to the Parisian markets. Clamart even earned the nickname “Clamart aux petits pois.” The writer Grimod de La Reynière declared them “the best of all the vegetables eaten in Paris.” Imagine those plump, sweet peas, prepared with butter, lettuce, and spring onions. To this day, in French cuisine, “à la Clamart” means a dish is garnished with peas. Picture a succulent veal escalope “à la Clamart.” Though the market gardens disappeared in the 1960s, the memory lives on. The Sentier des Petits Pois, a square, and even an association bear the name. Every June, the town holds a festival, a vibrant celebration of Clamart’s pea heritage. So next time you enjoy a dish “à la Clamart,” remember the Sentier des Petits Pois and the legacy of the little green jewel that captivated a king.