Monday, May 23, 2005
Parc Monceau
On the way to and from the Nissim de Camondo museum, my friends and I walked through Parc Monceau. There are so many parks in the 16th, I rarely bring the kids to the other beautiful parks, but Parc Monceau in the 8th arrondissement is lovely.To get into Parc Monceau you walk through the most beautiful gilded gates designed by Davioud.
In 1778 Louis Philip II, the Duc de Chartres and Orleans, known as Philippe Egalite, bought the territory that would become Monceau Park. His park designer, de Carmontelle, was charged with designing "an outstanding garden bringing all times and places together." The result was a whimsical garden with fake Roman ruins, a Dutch windmill, a ruined fort and an Egyptian pyramid!
When the toll walls were built around Paris in 1787, the section that corresponds to today's Boulevard de Courcelles was surrounded by a ditch so that the Duc's view would be unobstructed. A beautiful rotunda was built instead of an observation post to fit in with the environment of the park.
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In 1793, during the French revolution, the garden was confiscated from the Duc. In the 1850s, the city of Paris bought the garden. The garden was inaugurated in its current configuration by the Napoleon III in 1861. Ever since, only statues have been added to the grounds.
Parc Monceau also has some beautiful flowers and playgrounds for the kids, making it a popular place for families on the weekends. It was certainly a pleasure to walk through on a lovely spring day.
-- said Auntie M in Paris
3:30 PM
Comments:
Gorgeous photos; I feel as though I've been there, and if I ever do, I'll know just where to go. Thanks!
# posted by kenju : 9:13 PM
# posted by kenju : 9:13 PM
Such a beautiful park - I read your link to Parc Monceau too. One is never charged admission to the parks? For such beauty to be free - not such a bad deal, no? Lucky you to be in Paris! Terry in SF
# posted by Anonymous : 9:23 PM
# posted by Anonymous : 9:23 PM
We were sooooo close to getting an apartment in the 8th b/c of Parc Monceau. The apt. was a hop and a skip away from it and I thought the place was beautiful. I'll never forget those gates either. Glad we ended up in the 16th though--more families like you! I miss Paris.
CMAC
# posted by Anonymous : 9:45 PM
CMAC
# posted by Anonymous : 9:45 PM
CMAC, you were right. Last time we lived in Paris, we lived in the 8th to be near Parc Monceau. I spent many a day in the playground, and my children had endless rides on the manege and ice creams at the kiosque. We loved the fake ruins, especially the pyramid--we pretended there was a mummy inside. Now we live in the 16th, near Jardins de Ranelagh, and we like this area much better. However, I did make some friends at Parc Monceau, and I've never made any friends at Ranelagh.
# posted by Lisa : 11:58 PM
# posted by Lisa : 11:58 PM
Kenju, Thanks!
Terry, The parks in Paris are beautiful. Monceau is one of the nicest, I think.
CMAC, We're glad you ended up in the 16th too!
Lisa, We like to go to Ranelagh, but it is tough to meet people there. I'm not sure why... probably because people move around a lot... from the carousel to the train to the sand park.
# posted by Auntie M in Paris : 12:21 AM
Terry, The parks in Paris are beautiful. Monceau is one of the nicest, I think.
CMAC, We're glad you ended up in the 16th too!
Lisa, We like to go to Ranelagh, but it is tough to meet people there. I'm not sure why... probably because people move around a lot... from the carousel to the train to the sand park.
# posted by Auntie M in Paris : 12:21 AM
How do you learn all the info about each place you visit? Do you learn it from the tours you take or from books? Very interesting! The parks are just so beautiful captured in your pictures!
# posted by mommy d : 2:01 AM
# posted by mommy d : 2:01 AM
Mommy d, Thanks for asking. Usually what happens is I take a tour and start writing around a picture I took that I thought was interesting... then I realize I don't have a full idea on the thing so I do a bit of reseach. It takes a lot of time and sometimes I just don't want to do it because of all the other stuff I should be doing... but I've learned so much reading up about the place after the tour!
Marie, Thanks. I have enjoyed taking pictures with a digital camera... it's really changed picture taking for me.
# posted by Auntie M in Paris : 7:29 AM
Marie, Thanks. I have enjoyed taking pictures with a digital camera... it's really changed picture taking for me.
# posted by Auntie M in Paris : 7:29 AM
"In 1793, during the French revolution, the garden was confiscated from the Duc."
In 1793, also "confiscated" was the Duke's head as Philippe-Egalité was condemned by the revolutionary tribunal & guillotined on 6 November 1793, twenty days after Marie-Antoinette, Place de la Révolution (= Place Louis XV before the Revolution & Place de la Concorde since 1830).
Frania W.
# posted by Frania W. : 8:50 AM
In 1793, also "confiscated" was the Duke's head as Philippe-Egalité was condemned by the revolutionary tribunal & guillotined on 6 November 1793, twenty days after Marie-Antoinette, Place de la Révolution (= Place Louis XV before the Revolution & Place de la Concorde since 1830).
Frania W.
# posted by Frania W. : 8:50 AM
Auntie: Did you know that the EAB is right next to Parc Monceau? (It is a top notch American private school for kids up to Baccalaureat)
Amelie P.
# posted by Anonymous : 8:01 AM
Amelie P.
# posted by Anonymous : 8:01 AM
I used to jog everyday in parc Monceau, it's so pretty (and free). I never felt comfortable to jog on the streets of Paris. I lived nearby on rue des Dames (M. Villiers), so it was quite close. Thank you so much for your pictures and the info, it brought me right back!! cpr
# posted by Anonymous : 7:16 AM
# posted by Anonymous : 7:16 AM
How big is Parc Monceau. I live in Brooklyn NY and I jog through Prospect Park and, I will be in Paris July 28 to Aug. 13. Hoping to meet people also. Thank you,
Vicente Revilla
vrevilla@hotmail.com
# posted by Anonymous : 1:40 PM
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Vicente Revilla
vrevilla@hotmail.com
# posted by Anonymous : 1:40 PM