Pyramid - Parc de Monceau

Parc de Monceau

dressed and adorned

for spring

Parc de Monceau

75008, Paris

Les Portes de Parc Monceau

The Gates of Parc Monceau

Gabriel Davioud (1824-1881) was given the job 

of creating the monumental entrances for this quiet park on boulevard de Courcelles

with the imposing gilded wrought iron gates.

The details have been meticulously maintained, 

and reflect the afternoon sun.

Parc de Monceau

35, boulevard de Courcelles

75008, Paris

Des Grandes Maisons

These beautiful homes overlook Parc de Monceau.

I do not know which view is better:

The homes seen from my vantage point in the park,

or the park seen from the grand balconies.

Parc de Monceau

75008, Paris

Printemps et une abeille

Spring blooms and a bee

The parks in Paris will be soon filled with 

the chartreuse green of new tendrils

and the vivid pastel blooms

Parc de Monceau

Rue de Courcelles

75008, Paris

Qu'est-ce que c'est? Une mouche? Un cafard?

What is it?

a roach? a fly?

Something quite interesting 

has captured the attention of these three young girls.

The vests are worn so that the teachers 

can identify them when they are ready to leave the park

Parc de Monceau

Boulevard de Courcelles

75008, Paris

 

Parc de Monceau - zoom-zoom!

Parc de Monceau

As you walk the paths of this Paris park, 

you should be on the look-out for little speed demons,

the charming little Parisians who learn to ride a scooter 

as soon as they can walk.

...and they can really go fast!

zoom-zoom!

Parc de Monceau

Boulevard de Courcelles

75008, Paris

Parc de Monceau - pelouse interdite?

Parc de Monceau

Have you seen the "Pelouse Interdite" signs 

in all of the green areas of Paris telling you to stay off the grass?  

Or perhaps you have seen the signs during 

the winter months indicating the grass is hibernating 

and to "stay off."

Parc de Monceau is one of the Paris parks 

that allows you to walk, sit, play on the grass 

(during the warm, green-grass months).  

Before I knew better, 

I once took a nap on the grass 

outside of Petit Palais (around the backside).

oops!

Parc de Monceau

Boulevard de Courcelles

75008, Paris

Parc de Monceau - manger ou courir?

Parc de Monceau has few tourists, 

and the people you see in the park either work or live nearby.  

It is one of my favorite parks for watching la vie quotidienne.

Parc de Monceau

75008, Paris

Parc de Monceau - l'enfant en rouge

Parc de Monceau

Leaving the playground at Parc de Monceau

for the short walk home with Maman.

The few tousled curls are the only sign 

of the hard hours of play at the park.

Must be a French girl

Parc de Monceau

Boulevard de Courcelles

75008, Paris

 

Parc de Monceau - printemps!

Parc de Monceau

The Egyptian Pyramid

(1778)

The Parc Monceau is one of the most elegant parks of Paris and a peaceful oasis of greenery.  In general it is not frequented by tourists but full of nannies and children, families, and office workers at lunch.  You will see many joggers along the paths, pony rides for children, and a delightful carousel, Caroussel de Jules Verne.

A series of statues and busts of artists such as Guy de Maupassant, Frédéric Chopin, Charles Gounod and Alfred de Musset were scattered along the paths in the late 19th – early 20th century.  The large oval pool and its Corinthian columns were restored and are, along with the miniature Egyptian pyramid and the fantasy gravestones, some of the remains of the original park of the Duke of Chartres.

bon weekend

Parc de Monceau

Boulevard de Courcelles

75008, Paris

Parc de Monceau - XXXVIII

Parc de Monceau

les amies

Two little girls, part of a school outing from the nearby école maternelle, 

pair up for the two-by-two walk back to the school.

Easily identified by their reflective vests, 

they resembled a tiny swarm of bees.

Parc de Monceau

Boulevard de Courcelles

75008, Paris

Métro Monceau

Parc de Monceau - zoom-zoom

Parc de Monceau

This large, family-friendly park has an elongated track 

for scooters, skates, bikes, and unicycles.  

Yes, I saw one.  

The pace is fast and furious.  

Parents linger along the outside rails 

enjoying a warm autumn Sunday afternoon.

zoom-zoom

Parc de Monceau

Boulevard des Courcelles

(five entrances around the park)

75008, Paris

Métro Monceau

Parc de Monceau - l'aire de jeu

Parc de Monceau

There are several play areas in Parc de Monceau 

with plenty of room for running.  

If you listen carefully, 

you can almost hear the squeals of laughter and shrieks of the chase.

bon weekend

Parc de Monceau

Boulevard de Courcelles

(five entrances around the park)

75008, Paris

Métro Monceau

Parc de Monceau - une statue

A statue (or two)

Parc de Monceau

A warm sunny day in the park

found this gentleman in meditation 

Parc de Monceau

Boulevard des Courcelles

(five entrances around the park)

75008, Paris

Métro Monceau

 

 

Parc de Monceau - XXXIII

Parc de Monceau

Although you may not be able to tell the season from this photo, 

you can see Parisians enjoying the good weather 

and note that the lawn is "awake." 

There is no "pelouse interdite" sign nor my favorite, 

"pelouse au repose hivernal," 

which means that the lawn is hibernating 

(like a bear)

 

Parc de Monceau

Boulevard des Courcelles

(five entrances around the park)

75008, Paris

Métro Monceau

Carrousel Jules Verne - Parc de Monceau

Carrousel Jules Verne

There are carousels at every turn in Paris, and I am not even sure how many.  For me there are about five favorites but I have a list of ones yet to visit.  

Carrousel Jules Verne is a relatively new addition to Parc de Monceau (autumn 2011).  The colorful, petite merry-go-round is a highlight for the children of the neighborhood.  On weekends every ride is taken, and during the week the mamans and nannies gather with the young children.

Carrousel Jules Verne

Parc de Monceau

75008, Paris

Joining Paulita's Dreaming of France meme
check it out

Parc de Monceau - XXXI

Parc de Monceau

Rotunda

This rotunda at the main entrance of Parc de Monceau 

is in the form of a classical Doric temple.  

It is known as the Pavilion de Chartres 

and was designed in the late 18th century by Claude Nicolas Ledoux.  

The ground floor of the temple was used as a customs house, 

while the upper floor was an apartment with a view of the garden 

reserved for Phillippe d'Orléans, Duke of Chartres, 

a wealthy cousin of King Louis XVI.  

Unfortunately, the Duke was guillotined during the Reign of Terror 

in 1793 and the park was nationalized.

Parc de Monceau

Boulevard de Courcelles

75008, Paris

Métro Monceau

Parc de Monceau - des amants

amoureux d'un jour,

amis pour la vie

Parc de Monceau is not just for the young, 

but for those whose love has matured.

Ahhhh, printemps...

love is in the air

Parc de Monceau

Boulevard de Courcelles

75008, Paris

Métro Monceau

 

 

Parc de Monceau - la pyramide égyptienne

The Egyptian Pyramid

Parc de Monceau was designed by Carrogis Carmontelle in the late 1700s 

with a fanciful assortment of features:  

a Roman colonnade, antique statues, a tatar tent, 

a farmhouse, an enchanted grotto, an Egyptian pyramid, and more

It is one of my favorite parks in Paris, active with Parisians and their children.  

The change of seasons is particularly remarkable in the spring.

Parc de Monceau

Boulevard de Courcelles

75008, Paris

Métro Monceau

Manège du Parc - Parc de Monceau

Manège du Parc

This fascinating carousel in Parc de Monceau seems a bit lonely

 in the fading light of a gray autumn day

Parc de Monceau

Boulevard de Courcelles

75008, Paris

Métro Monceau