Parc Monceau

Parc Monceau is a lovely green space in the heart of Paris, in the 8th arrondissement not far from many popular tourist attractions, including the Champs-Elysees. The main entrance, a rotunda, is at the junction of a public park situated at the junction of Boulevard de Courcelles, Rue de Prony, and Rue Georges Berger.

Covering an area of 8.2 hectares, the park is a favourite with locals and tourists alike. With its informal layout, meandering walkways, a children’s playground, and statues of famous musicians, artists and writers, Parc Monceau is quite different from most Parisian parks.

Parc Monceau - one of the highlights of 12 Best Parks in Paris (Read all about Paris here)

Highlights of Parc Monceau

Parc Monceau was created in 1778 by Phillippe d'Orléans, Duke of Chartres, a very wealthy cousin to King Louis XVI, on land that he had begun to purchase in 1769. The park was designed by painter and writer Louis Carrogis Carmontelle, and was fashioned to be more of an “English Garden.”

The park also includes many architectural “follies,” or reconstructions of famous structures, from different items and places from around the world. An Egyptian pyramid, a Dutch windmill, a farmhouse and Corinthian pillars are just some of the follies that were included in the design.

Good things to know about visiting Parc Monceau

Parc Monceau is open daily to the public from sunup to sundown. The main entrance is a rotunda, which houses the fifth-generation park watchman who lives in residence. There are nine gated entrances in total around the park.

The park is quite popular with locals, and is frequented by families, nannies and people out for a stroll, so it can get crowded at peak times, such as on weekends and evenings, but is also a great place for people watching. There is WiFi available for public use and you can use the Monceau Paris Metro Stop to get to Parc Monceau.