Audio GuideParc Monceau
Public park with trees, tarmac trails & statues plus 18th-century colonnade & pyramid follies.
Park
Paris, France
Parc Monceau is a delightful public park located in the centre of Paris, within the eighth arrondissement. It was established in the late eighteenth century by Philippe d’Orléans, Duke of Chartres. The design, created by the painter and writer Louis Carrogis Carmontelle, was crafted to surprise and enchant visitors with its eclectic collection of structures. Today, you will discover a miniature Egyptian pyramid, a Roman colonnade, a Dutch windmill, a Tatar tent, a Swiss farmhouse, along with other exotic follies that conjure distant cultures and times.
The park’s layout ingeniously combines aspects of the English, Anglo-Chinese, and classical French garden styles. Meandering paths guide you past these scaled-down architectural marvels and towards a circular rotunda, known as the Pavilion de Chartres, which was designed by Claude Nicolas Ledoux. This area formerly functioned as both a customs house and a private sanctuary for the Duke. Interestingly, Parc Monceau was also the scene of the first silk parachute descent by André-Jacques Garnerin, a notable event in its history.
Throughout the urban redevelopment of Paris led by Baron Haussmann, Parc Monceau adapted yet managed to maintain its historical structures. Statues paying homage to renowned French writers and musicians contribute to the cultural atmosphere that continues to draw in art and literature aficionados. With playgrounds, complimentary Wi-Fi, and convenient access via metro and bus, the park endures as a cherished spot where the rich tapestry of Parisian history intersects with modern-day leisure.
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