Parc Montsouris is one of the largest urban green spaces in Paris, constituting the green lung of the south of the city. It is located in the 14th arrondissement, between Rue d'Alesia and the Cité Universitaire de Paris and spreads over 150 square meters.
Before the place was turned into a park, it was used as a large granite quarry and was home to many windmills. Human bones removed from various cemeteries in the city were buried in part of the area. The project to transform the quarry into a park was initiated by Napoleon III, who entrusted the major transformation to Baron Haussmann.
The Second Empire experienced a wave of large park creation – near the establishment of the Montessori Park, the Bot-Shoumon ParkThe emperor then wanted to provide green space in every part of the city for the well-being of the residents. This wave was part of the ambitious plan of beautification Paris It was led by Baron Osman, and fundamentally changed the appearance of the capital city.
The history of Montessori Park
The beginning was not easy. The first technical difficulty involved building the park on top of the old quarries. Work began in 1867 and continued until 1878, but its inauguration was celebrated as early as 1869. It is not entirely clear whether this actually happened or if it is just a legend, but it is said that on the day the park opened, the large artificial lake suddenly emptied. The embarrassment was so great that the engineer in charge of digging it committed suicide the next day. Another serious problem arose when, in 1871, during the Commune, the park temporarily became a battlefield.
In creating Parc Monsouris, Napoleon III drew inspiration from famous parks in London. Green spaces and vast meadows played a very important role here. They were seen as meeting places where all social classes mixed – a very modern vision that still prevails there today.
Parc Monsoury is considered to have a fairly successful perspective. It is said that it is located in a location where one breathes the best atmosphere of Paris. The park contains about 1,400 magnificent trees. Some of them are over a hundred years old. The maidenhair tree (Ginkgo Biloba) planted near the lake is the tallest tree in the park.
In the fall, it reflects intense and spectacular yellow foliage. The lake itself is stunning in its beauty. Birds of all kinds nest in it, and there are also swans and ducks of all kinds of shades. The lake's surroundings are characterized by elegant, wide-edged trees that protect the environment and extensive lawns. Many bronze or stone statues adorn the park and add to its beauty. In the center of the lake are an island and a small cave that serve as a shelter for birds. In the fall months, the park is saturated with amazing colorful foliage.
At the edge of the park is the central meteorological station and next to it lies the southern point of the Paris meridian, which crosses the Parc Montsouris. Inside the park, near the lake, is the famous restaurant Le pavillon Montsouris. Here, prestigious clients such as Lenin, Trotsky, Simone de Beauvoir and Jean-Paul SartreMany other celebrities used to visit the park, such as: Henry Miller, Salvador Dali, Chaim Soutine And the painter Rousseau was nicknamed “the publican.”
Once a year, during European Heritage Days, you can visit the huge reservoir of Parc Monsoury, which contains a third of the drinking water consumed by Parisians. From May to September, visitors to the park can enjoy the many free concerts given at the orchestra kiosk at the foot of the lake.
Opposite the garden, across the main road, lies the University Quarter, a small and friendly international city where students from all over the world study. In this huge complex you can find restaurants, libraries, a swimming pool and a theater. It is a lively and cheerful area during the school months and deserted during the holidays. The most convenient way to get to the park is by suburban train (RER) at the Cité Universitaire station.
Montessori Park – Useful Information
Parc Monsoury is located at 2 rue Gazan, in the 14th arrondissement of Paris.
The park's opening hours vary depending on the seasons.
- From May 1.5 to August 31.8, the park is open from 7:00 AM to 21:30 PM.
- From September 1.9 to September 30.9, the park is open from 7:00 AM to 20:30 PM.
- From September 1.10 to September 24.10, the park is open from 7:00 AM to 19:30 PM.
- From September 25.10 to September 28.2, the park is open from 7:00 AM to 17:45 PM.
Entrance to the park is free.
Public transportation to Montessori Park
Metro:
Line 4 (marked in purple) – Get off at Mouton-Duvernet station and walk about 10 minutes towards the park.
Line 6 (marked in green) – Get off at Glacière station and walk about 15 minutes towards the park.
RER train:
Line B (marked in blue) – You must get off at the Cité Universitaire station, which is right next to the park.
bus:
Line 21 – Get off at the Parc Montsouris stop, which is right next to the park.
Line 67 – You must get off at the Tombe Issoire – René Coty stop and walk about 5 minutes towards the park.