What Paris can boast of: 10 most beautiful gardens and parks in the capital of France

2024 Author: Richard Flannagan | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-15 23:55

There is so much to see in the world, and Paris is certainly no exception. Simply put, the City of Lights has it all: world-class museums, historic churches and cathedrals, stunning restaurants and unique shopping malls, cozy cafes with aromatic pastries and coffee, the Champs Elysees and the Eiffel Tower. And yet, there are magnificent parks and gardens that attract tourists to their "nets" from all over the world, conquering hearts with beautiful views.

1. Plant Garden (Jardin des Plantes)

Jardin des Plantes (officially the English Botanical Garden, or National Museum of Natural History) is one of the leading botanical gardens in the world, located in Paris. It was founded in 1626 as the Royal Herbal Garden and first opened its doors to the public in 1650. Under the direction of Georges-Louis Leclerc, Comte de Buffon, a respected naturalist who is considered the father of natural history (1739-1788), the garden was greatly expanded. Inspired by the design of the Italian Renaissance garden, he planted many trees, creating promenades, added various levels to the territory, large-scale parterres, secret grottoes, labyrinths and sculptures, and also established a famous research center there, associated with such prominent figures of early French botany and zoology as brothers Jussier, Georges Cuvier and Jean-Baptiste Lamarck.

The center supported expeditions to many remote corners of the world, which led to the acquisition of a large number of plants previously unknown to Western science.

Among the first scientific adventurers from France were Antoine, Bernard and Joseph de Jussier. The sons of a renowned pharmacist, they all trained as doctors at a time when medical science was based on the treatment of physical ailments and diseases using herbaceous plants. The brothers' interest in the discovery and cultivation of medicinal plants led each of them, in turn, to the study of natural sciences. Today they are known as some of the earliest botanists in Europe.

In 1793, after the revolution, the Botanical Garden was enlarged again and became part of the Museum d'Histoire Naturelle. The zoo was soon built, the oldest in Paris, with animals from the Royal Menagerie at Versailles. For the first time, Parisians could stare in amazement at giraffes, bears, elephants and other animals.

Four huge green houses, Grandes Serres, were built to house over four thousand species of tropical plants. Gardens of roses, peonies and irises were added in later years, and the impressive alpine garden is still a marvel, with specimens from Pakistan, Nepal, Corsica, the Himalayas, the Balkans, Afghanistan, Mexico, Morocco, Argentina, Provence and the Pyrenees.

Still located in its original location, the Jardin des Plantes covers an area of twenty-eight hectares (sixty-eight acres) with six greenhouses for demonstration and twenty-two for services. In these greenhouses and in open areas, about twenty four thousand plant species are grown. The garden contains cacti, herbs, bromeliads, orchids, ferns, aroids, Australian flora, alpine plants, irises, conifers and much more.

The herbarium kept in the garden is one of the best in the world and consists of more than six million dried reference samples. A botanical library, a small zoo, a labyrinth and various natural history exhibits are also part of the garden and museum complex.

A total of four galleries of the Natural History Museum are now located on the grounds of the garden. The Mineralogy Gallery displays over two thousand minerals and precious stones, including the impressive emerald that adorned the sacred crown of St. Louis, while the Grande Galerie de l'Evolution showcases ten thousand animals dramatically depicting the history of evolution in droves.

2. Luxembourg Garden (Jardin du Luxembourg)

Located on the border between Saint-Germain-des-Pres and the Latin Quarter, the Jardin du Luxembourg, inspired by the Boboli Gardens in Florence, was initiated by Queen Marie de Medici in 1612. The gardens, covering twenty-five hectares of land, are divided into French and English. Between them lies a geometric forest and a large pond. There is also an orchard with a variety of apple trees, an apiary to learn about beekeeping, and greenhouses with a collection of breathtaking orchids, and a gorgeous rose garden. In the garden you can find one hundred and six statues scattered throughout the park, the monumental Medici fountain, the greenhouse and the Daviud Pavilion.

There are many activities and facilities for children, such as rides and slides, while adults can play chess, tennis, bridge or remotely control boats. The cultural program includes free photography exhibitions and concerts.

3. Green Alley (Coulee Verte)

It was originally a railway line that ran throughout East Paris up to 77th. Today it is an exciting walk along the Green Way, located in the very center of the twelfth district.

Built in 1859, the railway line connecting the Bastille station with the Eastern suburbs of Paris has been abandoned since 1969. Philippe Mathieu and Jacques Vergli, respectively architect and landscape designer, have decided to turn this place into a "Green Zone".

And since then, this route from the Bastille to the Vincennes castle can be walked or by bike. Coulee Verte is an excellent opportunity to relax your soul and enjoy the beauty around. Here is one of the most beautiful green areas in Paris - Place Charles Peguy, where magnolias bloom.

Also, on the territory and along the entire route, all the ancient structures of the railway have been preserved. Bridges, trolleys, tunnels - all this and much more allows tourists and citizens to travel back in time among thickets of luxurious trees.

4. Garden of the Palais Royal (Jardin du Palais Royal)

The Jardin du Palais Royal is the perfect place to sit, contemplate and picnic between the hedges or shop in three beautiful arcades that flank the garden: Galleria Valois (East) is the most prestigious gallery with designer boutiques such as Stella McCartney and Pierre Hardy …

However, it was the southern part of the complex, dotted with 260 black and white striped columns by sculptor Daniel Buren, that became the hallmark of the garden.

This elegant urban space houses a neoclassical palace (closed to the public), built in 1633 by Cardinal Richelieu, but mostly dating from the late 18th century. Louis XIV lived here in the 1640s, and today it houses the Council of State of France.

5. Tuileries Garden (Jardin des Tuileries)

Throughout its history, the Tuileries Garden has served many functions. The park is named after the tile factories that once stood on the same site before Queen Catherine de 'Medici commissioned the Tuileries Palace in 1564. (It was redone in 1664 by André Le Notre for King Louis XIV.)

The garden separates the Louvre and Place de la Concorde. Guests can relax by the ponds, admire Monet's works of art in the Orangerie Museum, and in the summer enjoy a carnival in the park during the Tuileries Festival.

6. Pont des Arts

The Pont de Ar is not a typical park. Located between the Institut de France and the Louvre, the Pont des Arts is the city's first iron bridge, completed in 1804.

Elegant and lightweight, it represented the cutting edge of engineering of its time, being made of cast iron. Inspired by the world's first cast-iron bridge built across the River Severn in England, Napoleon Bonaparte asked engineers to design a bridge that would resemble a garden suspended over the Seine, decorated with flowers and furnished with benches on which pedestrians could rest.

Unfortunately, in the twentieth century, the bridge suffered a lot of damage during the two wars, and in the post-war period, in 1979, a barge crashed into one of the bridge pillars, resulting in a massive collapse.

The bridge was dismantled. Half of it was transferred to the Parisian suburb of Nogent-sur-Marne and placed in storage for ten years, until it received a second life, being erected over the River Marne.

The new Pont des Arts was built between 1981 and 1984, this time in steel, and designed to resemble the original, but with a reduced number of arches from nine to seven to match its Seine neighbor, Pont Neuf.

The Pont des Arts remains a constant favorite of artists and photographers who draw inspiration from its magnificent views along the river. It is also a popular picnic spot and, of course, a major attraction for lovers from all over the world who left castles on the bridge as a sign of their love. The tradition originated in Hungary or, as some say, in Cologne, but wherever it comes from were picked up with great enthusiasm at the Pont des Arts.

Lovers attached padlocks with names engraved on them to the railing of the bridge before tossing the key into the river as a symbol of eternal devotion. It was a fascinating idea, but unfortunately in practice it resulted in a significant accumulation of excess weight damaging the bridge. Thus, the authorities decided in 2015 to remove all love locks from the bridge. However, the Pont des Arts as well as the nearby Pont de l'Archeveche remain iconic romantic date spots and ideal locations for a cozy picnic for two.

7. Parc Monceau

The construction of the Parc Monceau began in the 17th century by order of the Duke of Chartres. Located in the eighth arrondissement, today it is one of the most elegant gardens in Paris and a reflection of the area. Visitors can enter through a large wrought iron gate decorated with gold.

A walk in the park will give you a lot of vivid impressions: there are numerous statues, a Renaissance arch belonging to the former Paris City Hall, impressive trees, many different birds and a large pond. Parc Monceau is surrounded by luxurious buildings and mansions, including the Cernuschi Museum (Asian Art Museum). It is a quiet and pleasant park frequented by Parisians and tourists. There are also playgrounds for children, which is very important for those who relax and walk with children.

8. Petit Palais (Interior Garden at Petit Palais)

The Petit Palais houses the Museum of Fine Arts of the city of Paris. It was built for the 1900 Paris Universal Exhibition. Petit Palais is located between the Champs Elysees and the Pont Alexandre III. The Petit Palais shape forms a semicircular courtyard in the center. This open area is occupied by a small garden. It has pools lined with blue and gold mosaics, and the exotic plants growing there give a tropical atmosphere, making this a truly cozy and comfortable place to relax.

9. Parc floral de Paris

Located in the Bois de Vincennes, the Parisian Flower Park is much more than just a public park and botanical garden. This fabulous place was opened in 1969. Situated on twenty-eight hectares, it offers a lot of entertainment and is suitable for exciting walks, including with children. The main highlight of this place is the mini-golf course, which resembles a miniature copy of the capital of France, where each of the eighteen holes are monuments of Paris: from the Eiffel Tower to the Pantheon.

Jazz musicians gather in the park every summer, so this is a great opportunity for music lovers to enjoy the enchanting sounds.

At the very beginning, this place was a hunting ground and a royal park, but after the French Revolution it was turned into a training ground for soldiers. Despite the fact that later Napoleon III made every effort to turn the Bois de Vincennes into a public park, the territory of the future Parisian Flower Park continued to remain under the control of the military even after the end of World War II.

In the late 60s, in connection with the largest international flower exhibition, Paris, wishing to take part in the event, was desperately looking for a suitable venue for the exhibition. It was decided to use the area of the Vincennes forest. As a result, 1969 marked the beginning of the Flower Park.

A French architect, Daniel Collin, was responsible for this project. From designing a valley of flowers and a sculpture garden to a Japanese-style water garden and playground, he went to great lengths to give this place a special atmosphere and charm.

10. Park Belleville (Parc de Belleville)

For a real escape from the city, head to the twentieth arrondissement, Belleville Park. It was once home to farms, windmills and endless countryside that has undergone an intense transformation over the past thirty years. Belleville Park was built in 1988 and is surrounded by waterfalls, streams and tower staircases. Here, everyone can easily discover a new view of the city for themselves, seeing Paris in a different light, such as few have seen.

Needless to say, the best time to do this is at sunset, when an orange hue sinks across the famous gray rooftops of Paris, painting the French capital gold.

Not only Paris can surprise. Connoisseurs will remember and, about which few people know.