Paris is known worldwide for its famous monuments, such as the Eiffel Tower or the Louvre Museum. But the capital is also home to some of the most beautiful parks and gardens in France. Located almost everywhere in the heart of the city, Paris has no less than 145 gardens spread over 207 hectares, as well as 17 parks and 275 squares! From the Jardin des Tuileries to the Parc Monceau, we invite you to discover the most beautiful parks and gardens in Paris, if you are looking for a day of relaxation in the capital. In this article, we are going to take a look at the most emblematic parks and gardens in Paris. So put on your walking shoes and get ready to explore the most beautiful parks and gardens in Ile de France!
The Luxembourg Garden
Located in the 6th arrondissement of Paris, the Luxembourg Garden is recognized as one of the most beautiful gardens in France, and it was even elected “the most beautiful garden in Europe” in April 2022 by the “Housefresh” site. The Jardin du Luxembourg was created in 1612 at the request of Marie de Médicis, in order to decorate the Palais du Luxembourg. With an area of 23 hectares, the Luxembourg garden is adorned with flowerbeds, as well as 106 sculptures. Located in the heart of the Latin Quarter, the Jardin du Luxembourg is home to several buildings classified as historical monuments, such as the Palais du Luxembourg where the senators sit or the Petit Luxembourg, the private mansion where the President of the Senate resides. There is also the Luxembourg Museum and the Orangery which houses a collection of 180 plants mainly made up of citrus fruits. The Luxembourg garden also has a part called “French garden”, like the gardens of the Palace of Versailles . 60 gardeners recruited by competition are in charge of maintaining the green spaces and the plantations that decorate this garden.
The Tuileries garden in Paris
Created in the 16th century, the Tuileries Garden is located in the 1st arrondissement of Paris, southeast of the Louvre Museum . It is the largest and oldest French garden present in the capital. Listed as a historical monument since 1914, the Tuileries Garden covers 25 hectares and hosts the international contemporary art fair (FIAC) every year. The Tuileries Garden has 2 large ponds and it also houses the Musée de l’Orangerie in which you can admire, during a visit, works by Claude Monet. Every summer, the carnival takes place in the Tuileries Gardens, making it one of the busiest gardens in the capital.
The garden of the Royal Palace
Also located in the 1st arrondissement of Paris, the garden of the Palais Royal is a large square with an area of 2 hectares. Created and fitted out in 1633 in the center of the Palais Royal, it is bordered by 4 galleries under arcades. Built a few steps from the Louvre Museum , the garden of the Palais Royale is a haven of peace that has united, for several centuries, a place of power and pleasure. Over time, the garden of the Palais Royal will host in its galleries under arcades cafes, restaurants, as well as antique dealers and fashion designers. It is a magnificent green space to discover.
Garden plants
The botanical garden is a space dedicated to botany. Located in the 5th arrondissement of Paris, it includes a garden and a park, over a total area of 27 hectares. The Jardin des Plantes houses the famous National Museum of Natural History as well as a menagerie, a small zoological park with nearly 600 animals of different species. Huge metal greenhouses, 4 of which are open to the public, house a collection of plants from humid or arid environments, and buildings for scientific exhibitions serve as a museum. The Jardin des Plantes is the ideal place to relax with the family, while learning.
The gardens of the national archives
Located in the heart of the Marais, in the 3rd and 4th arrondissement of Paris, the gardens of the national archives extend over nearly 8,000m². In fact, it is a group of gardens belonging to private mansions. The gardens of the national archives bring together:
- The garden of the Hotel de Rohan,
- The garden of the hotels of Assy and Breteuil,
- The garden of the Hotel de Fontenay,
- The garden of the Hôtel de Jaucourt.
The Buttes-Chaumont park
Located in the northeast of Paris, in the 19th arrondissement, the Parc des Buttes-Chaumont extends over nearly 25 hectares, making it one of the largest gardens in the capital, behind the Bois de Boulogne, the Bois de Vincennes and the Parc de la Villette . It is an English garden inspired by a mountain landscape with rocks, cliffs, waterfalls… The Buttes-Chaumont park is a landscaped park made up of 12 hectares of lawn and 6 hectares of woodland. 7 hectares are reserved for traffic, with avenues and paths. A rocky island stands in the middle of a lake and a cave is visible at the entrance to an underground quarry. The Parc des Buttes-Chaumont is home to exotic and native trees and its elevation makes it the ideal place for Parisian sports enthusiasts.
Parc Monceau
Parc Monceau is located in the 8th arrondissement of Paris, in the Europe district. Its surface is 8.25 hectares and its layout includes a rotunda, an oval basin and marble statues bearing the effigy of famous French musicians and writers. Parc Monceau has also inspired many painters such as Claude Monet, Georges Braque and Henri Brispot. Its construction dates back to the 17th century and Parc Monceau remains to this day one of the most elegant parks in Paris. Surrounded by luxury buildings and sumptuous mansions, Parc Monceau is home to spectacular trees, such as a Sycamore maple with twisted branches dating from 1853, and whose trunk circumference is more than 4 meters! Parc Monceau also harbors the greatest diversity of birds, attracted in particular by the height of the trees and the coolness of the basin.
Montsouris Park
Located in the 14th arrondissement of Paris, the Parc Montsouris is a vast green expanse with an area of 15 hectares. Inaugurated in 1869, this park is home, like Parc Monceau, to a large number of bird species: you can see swans, mallard ducks, gray herons, but also chickadees and ring-necked parakeets. 1,500 species of trees, the majority of which are several hundred years old, adorn Parc Montsouris. A lake and beautiful statues also adorn its paths and its proximity to the university city of Paris makes it the favorite place for students to walk.
Bercy Park
Located in the 12th arrondissement of Paris, the Parc de Bercy is a set of 3 gardens located on the site of the former wine warehouses of Bercy. With a total area of 14 hectares, Bercy Park was developed between 1993 and 1997. It consists of the romantic garden, the large meadow and the flowerbeds. Located on the banks of the Seine, the parterres are made up of 9 cultivation squares characterized by 9 elements, including the wind pavilion, the scented garden and the vegetable garden. The large meadow is a space conducive to relaxation and walking. The romantic garden of the Parc de Bercy is decorated with ponds and a small lake where an island stands in the middle.
Bagatelle Park
Parc de Bagatelle is located in the 16th arrondissement of Paris, in the heart of the Bois de Boulogne. Its area is 25 hectares and this park is home to a magnificent rose garden containing 9,500 rose plants from 1,100 varieties. The Parc de Bagatelle also houses a castle dating from 1777 and built in 64 days, following a bet between Marie-Antoinette and the Count of Artois! Small bridges, rocks, caves, artificial waterfalls under the cover of gigantic trees make the Parc de Bagatelle a garden with a romantic setting, ideal for a romantic stroll.
Georges Brassens Park
This 8-hectare park is located in the 15th arrondissement of Paris. It is located on the former slaughterhouses of Vaugirard and was inaugurated in 1985. The Georges Brassens park covers an area of 8.7 hectares, on uneven ground. The park owes its name to the famous French poet and singer who lived most of his Parisian life a few meters from the place. The Georges Brassens park is made up of a garden of scents, a garden adorned with aromatic and medicinal plants, as well as vines still in use. Activities around the themes of vines or beekeeping are offered to children and since their creation, the Georges Brassens park has welcomed more than 30,000 of them.
Martin-Luther-King Park
Also known as the Clichy Batignolles park, the Martin-Luther-King park is located in the 17th arrondissement of Paris, not far from the Square des Batignolles. Developed in 2012 following the accommodation project for the future Olympic village in Paris, the Martin-Luther-King park extends over nearly 10 hectares and revolves around 3 themes:
- Seasons
- The sport
- The water
Since 2020, and following the development of a large raised promenade, the Martin-Luther-King park has become the 8th park in Paris, in terms of surface area. A central lawn with an area of one hectare and a green beach are a delight for sunbathers! An orchard with fruit trees specially adapted to the climatic conditions of Ile de France contributes to the development of the park’s biodiversity.
Belleville Park
Belleville Park, also called Belleville Garden, is located in the 20th arrondissement of Paris. Its area is 4.5 hectares and it owes its name to the hill of Belleville which culminates at 108 meters. At the top of the park, a furnished terrace offers a panoramic view of the city of Paris. Inaugurated in 1988, Belleville Park is adorned with 1,200 trees and shrubs, as well as perennials and roses. A cascading fountain, 100 meters long, cascades down the famous hill and a 1,000 m² lawn, accessible to the public, allows you to relax on occasion.
The André Citroën park
Parc André Citroën is a green space located in the 15th arrondissement of Paris, on the left bank of the Seine. Created in 1986 and inaugurated in 1992 on the site of the former Citroën factory, its surface area amounts to 14 hectares. The park is structured around several themed gardens, called “serial gardens”. A tethered balloon rising 150 meters allows 30 passengers to enjoy an unusual view of Paris, while informing Parisians about the quality of the air. A solarium, a fun quay, play areas for children and teenagers, as well as entertainment areas offer walkers an environment conducive to calm and relaxation with the family.
The floral park of Paris
Located in the heart of the Bois de Vincennes, near the Val de Marne, the floral park of Paris extends over nearly 35 hectares. Laid out in 1969, this park is ideal for lovers of floral art and greenery. There are many play areas, as well as an 18-hole mini-golf course. The Paris floral park is home to a unique collection of 1,500 irises, as well as azaleas, peonies and 250 varieties of tulips of all colors. Located near the Château de Vincennes, the Parc Floral de Paris has been officially recognized since 1998 as a botanical garden, in particular thanks to its collections of plants unique in the world.
More information on the official Paris tourism website
