MollyBrown

Hello,

We would like to check out at least two of Paris's many find parks and gardens. We were thinking of heading to Luxembourg Gardens on our arrival day and farther along in our itinerary I would like to see either:

1. Parc des Buttes-Chaumont
-for its "craggy caves" and "huge cliffs" - are there any caves you can walk in?

2. Parc Monceau
-for its "grottoes and "follies" - what kind of follies?

3. Parc de la Villette
-for ites interesting giant sphere -what else does this parc have to offer?

Any suggestions on which to choose and why? Also any ideas if/when these parks close - perhaps a good late afternoon activity? (should be longer days in late May).

Would you switch out Luxembourg Gardens for one of the above?

Thanks,

MollyB

MollyBrown

I forgot to ask: how much time do we need to book aside for the parcs above? Could we pop over to Parc Villette for 2hours or so at the end of the day or it is an "event" -an all afternoon type activity?

MrNuke

1) There is a fairly large man made grotto with a waterfall inside of it. There is a nice little lake, cliffs as you mentioned, and the Temple of Sybil at the center of the park. It's a beautiful arboreal park.

2) Monceau also has a grotto. As for follies there is a a Roman ruin, an Egyptian pyramid, a minaret, a Dutch windmill, etc.

3) Parc de la Villette is a "modern" park. Next to the giant spear is one of the largest science museums in Europe. Numerous gardens are on the ground. For example a garden of sounds and a bamboo garden, etc. There is a theme with something like 18 red follies throughout the grounds of the park as well that can be fun do go around and find.

Buttes-Chaumont and La Villette are within walking distance of each other. If you did Buttes-Chaumont you could walk down Canal Saint-Martin right afterwards and hit La Villette.

MollyBrown

Thank Mr Nuke! That is an excellent suggestion - Buttes-Chaumont down Canal St. Martin to Villettes! Sounds like a great afternoon.

We'll hope for some nice weather and try to steer in that direction.

Regards,

Molly

ira

Hi MB,

>how much time do we need to book aside for the parcs above?

Even for me, this is too much micro planning.

One takes a walk in the park because one feels like taking a walk in the park.

Also:

Jardin des Plantes and Tuileries.

d_claude_bear

We have visited all three of the parks you ask about, and liked them all. Parc Monceau is quiet and "stately." I went there by metro several times just to sit and read a book or newspaper. It does have interesting decorative elements and is in a classy neighborhood.

This May we intend to visit Parc Montsouris (near the border of the 13th and 14th arrondissements) as we have heard its elevations and water features are quite interesting.

We also liked Parc Andre Citroen, on the site of a former Citroen auto factory. It is quite modern and unlike most other Parisian parcs.

Seamus

If you head to la Villette, consider the music museum - it is great!