Parc Monceau

     ParcMonceau             

This is the Parc Monceau /paʁk mõso/, one of the prettiest parks in Paris—which is saying quite a bit, since Paris is filled with beautiful parks. It is in the very nice andquite chichi eighth arrondissement of Paris, not far from the Arc de Triomphe and the top of the Champs-Élysées. The park has a long and complex history, enough to fill a book. Suffice it to say here that it began almost three centuries ago as a massive garden, commissioned by the Duke of Chartres, and notably filled with fabriques de jardin, interesting, odd features designed to entertain, including fake monuments, such as a seemingly ancient Roman colonnade, an Egyptian pyramid, a pagoda, and other oddities. It also includes a children’s playground, endless benches, a pond and stream, a cave, a roller rink, some rides for kids, snack bars, manicured landscaping, and a circular outer trail that is exactly one kilometer in circumference and attracts a huge number of joggers. The park is also popular with kids, parents, nannies, retirees, and newlyweds having their pictures taken. There’s also an area st aside for dogs to play.

This photograph was taken on a very beautiful late afternoon in spring, near the northern entrance to the park. You’re looking west in this photograph.

I also have a video exploring this park, if you’re interested.

Photographed on May 8, 1999.