Monceau Park (Parc Monceau) Tours

Founded by the Duke of Chartres and painted by Claude Monet, Monceau Park (Parc Monceau)—located in the eighth arrondissement—is one of Paris’ most elegant gardens. Established in 1778 and later restored by Baron Haussmann, the English-style landscape garden is famed for its architectural follies, including a picturesque, neoclassical colonnade.

The Basics
With its royal pedigree and tony setting, Parc Monceau is as chic today as it was centuries ago. Established by the Duke of Chartres (King Louis XVI’s cousin), the park has an informal, English-style design that differentiates it from most of Paris’ other green spaces.

Ringed by elegant townhouses and featuring a water lily–studded pond, the park is best known for its many follies: small-scale architectural features that range from a pyramid and classical colonnade to a bridge inspired by Venice’s Rialto Bridge. It also contains a number of statues commemorating French cultural heavyweights, from Frédéric Chopin to Guy de Maupassant.

Things to Know Before You Go

• Free Wi-Fi is available throughout the garden.
• Parc Monceau hosts an on-site playground for visitors with younger children.
• The park is free for all to visit.
• Parc Monceau has a ground-level entrance that makes it accessible to wheelchair-users, though its bathrooms are not accessible.

How to Get There
Located in the vicinity of the Arc de Triomphe and Champs-Élysées, Parc Monceau offers a chance to relax after a busy day of sightseeing. To get there, take Métro line 2 to the Monceau station, which is located right along the park’s northern edge. Alternatively, use bus line 30, 84, or 94. The park can also be reached on foot, by car, or by Vélib’ bike.

When to Get There
Parc Monceau is open daily. During the winter months it is open from 7am to 8pm; in the summer, it’s open from 7am to 10pm. There’s no bad time to visit, though the park is at its busiest on warm, summer days.

Nearby Highlights
Parc Monceau is surrounded by a clutch of small, charming museums, including the Musée Cernuschi (dedicated to Asian arts) and the Musée Nissim de Camondo (showcasing 18th-century decorative arts). It is also ringed by several embassies.