Your Guide to Parc Monceau Paris

Situated on the northern edge of the wealthy 8th arrondissement (actually on the border of the 8th and the 17th), Parc Monceau Paris is a lovely green space best known for its wrought-iron gates. Rich with history and lush greenery, le Parc Monceau is often left off of must-see itineraries due to its location. The park is a favorite local spot and is a short distance from some of the most touristy areas of Paris.

The public parks in Paris are all amazing, but Park Monceau offers a wonderful glimpse into the lives of bourgeois Parisians and how they spend their leisure time. From children playing on the grounds to young mothers and nannies chatting on shaded benches, the park is a calm, green haven in the urban landscape of Paris.

A brief history of Parc Monceau

Parc Monceau’s history dates back to French royalty, when it was created in 1778 by the cousin of King Louis XVI, Philippe d’Orléans, the Duke of Chartres. The Duke was fascinated by all things English and wanted to create a park inspired by the romantic English and German gardens. Louis Carrogis Carmontelle, a painter and a writer, was commissioned by the Duke to create this beautiful English garden.

The Duke was a liberal thinker and supported the French Revolution. He even voted for the execution of his cousin, King Louis XVI. But in 1793, the Duke himself was sentenced to the guillotine. Post-Napoleon, the park was restored to the Duke's family but reduced by half in size. The plots within the park were sold to developers who built elegant mansions and homes in the area.

The City of Paris bought Parc Monceau. It was later opened to the public in 1860 and was remade by Baron Haussmann during his urban works. Two alleys were laid out in the garden, one from north to south and one from east to west, both of which met in the center. In the olden days, the alleys were wide enough to allow the passage of horse carriages. The garden was also embellished with several exotic trees and flowers from around the globe.

Why do people like going to Parc Monceau?

A garden of illusions and pleasures, both familial and romantic, Parc Monceau is one of the nicest parks in the city. It has lots of elements to explore and discover. Like many places in Paris, the park is ideal for people watching and is frequented by locals of all ages.

The Dukes Follies

The Duke wanted an authentic English garden that would be filled with curiosities or follies that visitors could stumble upon while strolling. The garden, when completed, had a variety of follies- an Italian vineyard, a Dutch windmill, a Roman Colonnade, a miniature ancient Egyptian pyramid, a temple of Mars, Turkish tents, an enchanted grotto, a pond of water lilies, and antique statues.

These later came to be known as The Duke’s Follies, adding an element of surprise for visitors. Some of the decorative elements are no longer in the park, but the Egyptian pyramid and the Roman Colonnade still stand today.

Pavilion de Chartres

At the main entrance of Parc Monceau on the northern edge, near the Courcelles metro station, one can find a classic Doric temple, known as the Pavilion de Chartres. In 1787, Toll Walls, known as Mur des Fermiers Généraux (Wall of Farmers General), were built around Paris to fight smuggling.

Instead of a toll booth, Claude-Nicolas Ledoux designed a rotunda at this spot. The ground floor of the Pavilion was used as a customs house while the top floor had a garden-view apartment for the Duke. The dome was added later in the 19th century by architect Gabriel Davioud.

The garden also has gold-tipped iron-wrought gates created in the Louis Quinze style by Davioud.

Sculptures, relics, and paintings

The leafy pathways of the garden are dotted with statues and sculptures of painters, sculptors, and artists from various fields. The garden has a Renaissance-era arch from Paris City Hall and a small bridge modeled after Venice’s Rialto Bridge.

The garden was a favorite of artists like Henri Brispot, Paul Michel Dupuy, Georges Braque, and Roger Guit. Claude Monet painted three tableaus in 1876 and two in 1878. Gustave Caillebotte also painted Le Parc Monceau in 1877.

What’s in and around Parc Monceau?

Parc Monceau is located in the charming 8th arrondissement, which is home to many small museums, classic Haussmann architecture, and beautiful private mansions. You can find some of the finest bourgeois buildings of Paris in this neighborhood.

• Manège du Parc Monceau: A traditional merry-go-round in the Parc where kids can ride horses, a Nautilus vessel, a firetruck, and a tram. (See the full list of carousels in Paris here.)

• La Pyramide du Parc Monceau: A Replica of the pyramid of Cheops is a bit of a curiosity! It was installed during the period 1773-1778 when the columns, the arch, etc were built.

• Musée Nissim de Camondo: The museum tells one of Paris's saddest stories: a wealthy Jewish family collected prestigious art and treasured 18th-century French decorative art, only to have it all destroyed during the World Wars. Please note that the museum is currently closed for a major renovation and is expected to reopen later this decade, so do check ahead before you plan a visit. Address: 63 Rue de Monceau.

• Musée Jacquemart André: A Belle Epoque mansion that highlights the fairytale-like life of an art-loving couple who collected rare pieces of art from all over the world. The private art collection highlights 19th-century Parisian life. It reopened in September 2024 after a full year of renovations, so it looks lovelier than ever. Address: 158 Bd Haussmann.

• Musée Cernuschi: A mansion built to hold the art treasures collected by a wealthy Italian banker as he traveled across Asia, the museum is now home to rare ancient bronze sculptures from China, Japan, Korea, and Vietnam. Best of all, the permanent collection is free to visit and open Tuesday through Sunday from 10 am to 6 pm. Address: 7 Av. Velasquez.

• Hôtel Menier: The 8th arrondissement is home to several private mansions (known as hôtels particuliers) dating from the 18th and 19th centuries. Hôtel Menier, the home of a chocolatier, is one such historical landmark, featuring a beautiful facade and a courtyard. Address: 5 Av. Van Dyck.

• Pierre Hermé Paris: The beloved chef has a pastry shop on Boulevard Malesherbes, serving delicious macarons, pastries, and chocolate. Address: 89 Bd Malesherbes.

• Pagoda Paris: Originally built as a hotel, the building was later transformed into a Pagoda that now holds a collection of Chinese and Asian art and antiquities. Address: 48 Rue de Courcelles.

A little further away…

• Arc de Triomphe: The Arc de Triomphe is a 20-minute walk from Parc Monceau and offers a wonderful view of the Eiffel Tower, the Champs-Élysées, and Paris as a whole.

• Champs-Élysées: Home to countless shops, the Boulevard des Champs-Élysées is the most famous shopping street in Paris.

• Gare Saint Lazare: The only train station in the west of Paris, Saint Lazare inspired a number of impressionist paintings, especially by Monet. The station’s wonderful architecture almost transports one to a museum. (Read more about train stations in Paris here.)

Find more things to do, see and eat in the 8th arrondissement here.

Best time to visit Parc Monceau

Parc Monceau is lovely all year, but spring and early summer are the sweetest times to visit. From March through August, the flower beds fill in, the chestnut trees leaf out, and the lawns turn that deep velvet green that makes the park such a joy for a picnic. If you want the paths mostly to yourself, come early in the morning before the strollers and joggers arrive, or plan a late-afternoon visit when the light turns golden across the Roman Colonnade. Autumn has its own quiet charm too, with the leaves turning and far fewer visitors around. If you are planning a wider trip, my full Paris guide and the arrondissement guides can help you map out the rest of your days.

Quick Guide and FAQs about Parc Monceau

Parc Monceau in Paris is a wonderful green oasis and a great spot for a picnic. If you are visiting Paris and need a break from walking and taking it all in, have a seat on a bench in the park and people-watch. Parc Monceau is a great place to do it!

How about you? Have you been to Parc Monceau? Do share!

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