Beautiful Parc Monceau spans 8.2 green hectares, and it is marked by a neoclassical rotunda at its main bd Courcelles entrance. In 1778–1779, Louis Carrogis Carmontelle designed the garden, which features winding walks, ponds, and flower beds in the English style. The original Egyptian-style pyramid is all that’s left of this folly, but it also boasts a Renaissance arch, a Corinthian column, and a bridge inspired by Venice’s Rialto. For the little ones, there are planned puppet shows, a carousel, and play spaces.
You may find monuments of several famous French people throughout the park, including Frédéric Chopin, Charles-François Gounod (well known for writing “Ave Maria”), and Guy de Maupassant.
From a hot air balloon, André-Jacques Garnerin successfully landed the first parachute jump in the park in 1797.
Located in the 8th arrondissement, not far from many of the city’s most famous landmarks—including the Champs-Elysees—is the charming green space of Parc Monceau. The park at the intersection of Boulevard de Courcelles, Rue de Prony, and Rue Georges Berger serves as the setting for the rotunda that serves as the primary entrance.
The park, which spans 8.2 hectares, is popular among both locals and visitors. Unlike the standard formal Parisian park, Parc Monceau features winding paths, a playground, and monuments of notable singers, painters, and writers.
From morning to night, visitors may enjoy all that Parc Monceau has to offer. The rotunda at the main entrance is where the park’s resident watchman, who is in his fifth generation, makes his home. The park is surrounded by a total of nine gates.
It’s best to avoid the park at peak times (weekends and nights) because it tends to get crowded with residents enjoying the weather and/or the opportunity to people-watch. Access Parc Monceau through the Monceau Paris Metro Stop, where you’ll also find free public Wi-Fi.
History of Parque Monceau
Stop by the park if you’re looking for a peaceful place to spend a few hours away from the bustle of the city and take in the sights and sounds of the many interesting sculptures and statues that are dotted about the grounds. It was the Duke of Orleans, envisioning a grand garden, who first purchased the land. The Duke commissioned Louis Carmontelle to design the garden in a manner that set it apart from the other Parisian gardens because he did not want it to resemble the typical traditional French style of garden, which is described by formal shapes and patterns.
The Parc de Monceau features monuments and replicas from a wide range of time periods and Wonders of the World. Each of the memorials is a scale model of the main one.
During the French Revolution, the Duke was unfortunately executed, and the park he had so much loved was taken over by the French Republic and made available to the public. The park was loved by locals and tourists alike for its charming atmosphere and interesting artwork, which included a small windmill and pyramid and statues of well-known French figures. In 1860, the garden’s layout was modified to a more classic French form, and a large rotunda was created in the park’s center.
Highlights of Parque Monceau
Parc Monceau is truly one of the best parks in the city since it serves as a garden of illusions and pleasures, both domestic and romantic. It contains several parts for the curious to explore. The park is popular among Parisians of all ages, making it a great spot to people-watch.
The Duke desired a traditional English garden complete with oddities for curious passers-by to explore. When finished, the garden featured several different types of follies, such as an Italian vineyard, a Dutch windmill, a Roman Colonnade, a small ancient Egyptian pyramid, a temple to Mars, Turkish tents, an enchanted grotto, a pond filled with water lilies, and antique statues.
They were a pleasant surprise for the guests and became known as The Duke’s Follies. The park has lost some of its ornamentation over the years, but the Egyptian pyramid and the Roman Colonnade remain.
The Pavilion de Chartres is a classical Doric temple located at the northern gate to Parc Monceau, not far from the Courcelles metro station. The Mur des Fermiers Généraux (Wall of Farmers General) was constructed in 1787 as a series of toll gates encircling Paris in an effort to reduce the illegal trade.
Claude-Nicolas Ledoux envisioned a tower here instead of a toll booth. The Pavilion served as a customs house on its lower level, while the Duke lived in a luxurious apartment with a rooftop garden on the upper level. The architect Gabriel Davioud erected the dome in the latter half of the 19th century.
Davioud also crafted the garden’s Louis Quinze-style iron wrought gates, which are adorned with gold accents.
Statues and sculptures of painters, sculptors, and other artists from different mediums dot the garden’s green walkways. There is a miniature replica of Venice’s Rialto Bridge and a Renaissance Arch from the Paris City Hall in the garden.
Artists such as Henri Brispot, Paul Michel Dupuy, Georges Braque, and Roger Guit all enjoyed spending time in the garden. Claude Monet completed five tableaus between the years 1876 and 1878. Le Parc Monceau, by Gustave Caillebotte, was painted in 1877 as well.
Attractions in and around the famous Parque Monceau
The 8th arrondissement, where the lovely Parc Monceau can be found, is known for its tiny museums, classic Haussmann buildings, and stunning private residences. Some of Paris’ most opulent bourgeois mansions can be found in this area.
Horses, a Nautilus ship, a fire engine, and a tram are just a few of the rides available on the Manège du Parc Monceau, a classic merry-go-round in the park.
La Pyramide du Parc Monceau is an interesting replica of Cheops’ pyramid. It was put in place between 1773 and 1778, about the time the columns, arch, etc., were constructed.
The Musée Nissim de Camondo tells one of the city’s darkest tales, that of a wealthy Jewish family whose collection of 18th-century French decorative art and other works of art was destroyed during the wars.
Art Museum of Jacquemart-André: A Belle Epoque home that showcases the fantastical life of a couple who traveled the world to collect priceless works of art. This private art collection focuses on the culture of nineteenth-century Paris.
Rare antique bronze statues from China, Japan, Korea, and Vietnam are on display at Musée Cernuschi, a palace constructed to house the art collections of a wealthy Italian banker who traveled around Asia.
The 8th arrondissement is filled with private houses from the 18th and 19th centuries, including the Hôtel Menier. These buildings are referred to as hôtels particuliers. One such building with a magnificent front and a courtyard is Hôtel Menier, the former home of a chocolatier.
Conclusion
The 8th arrondissement of Paris is home to one of the city’s most magnificent parks, Parc Monceau. Here is a rundown of the park’s background and essentials to keep in mind when you go.
