Carousels in Paris
 

I've been to Paris before, but when I was there, i didn't have children so I didn't pay attention to things such as carousels. DH and I are going to Paris for a week this fall, and my daughter LOVES carousels. I've seen mentioned several times that there are several carousels around the Eiffel Tower, as well as a double decker carousel somewhere fairly close by. Anyone have any info on these? Thanks so much!

There's one about half way down in the Champ-de-Mars park near the Eiffel Tower, and there was one in front of the Hotel de Ville in March and April, but I don't know if that one is permanent. I'm sure there are many more that others know about.

there are carousels everywhere in paris. at the two large parks, tuileries and luxembourg, as well as at some metro stations: st. paul, montmarte, hotel de ville. the hotel de ville is a double-decker.

i'm sure there are more!

I believe it's tradition for every mairie to have one.... there is one at the foot of Sacre Coeur..I don't recall one in Champ de Mars.. there is one across from the Eiffel at the foot of Trocadero...there was one at the Villiers metro (17th) in 1999 :) and I think at Convention metro (1997) :)

Yes, our favorite was definitely the one at Sacre Coeur's base.

Here's a great article about Paris' carousels:
http://www.salon.com/travel/feature/...sel/print.html

Heather I too adore carousels and with every visit to Paris note the differences ( some not so subtle).

My favourite carousel has to be the one in Jardin du Luxembourg because it is really really old. If you look at the horses they have that old-style horse mould and not so much the 'flaring nostrils' look. The hoops or rings the children have to try and scoop as the carousel goes round and round is a custom from way back - how far back I don't know but I wouldn't mind betting the grandparents watching the children riding those old Gee-Gees did the same in their childhood.

My next favourite is the one at the bottom of Sacre Coeur and then the one near the Eiffel Tower.
I did see an awful version of a carousel at the bottom of Tour Montparnasse. Very modern and particularly ugly.

My mission in life is to take my grandchildren( non as yet) to Paris one day to ride the carousels!

If ever you come to Paris during Christmas season, there is a free carousel in every arrondissement of the city, which you can find on the municipal website.

Kerouac - You're a star ( as usual!).
Thanks for that info - I doubt whether it would be available anywhere else except on Fodors!!

I love this question abd I love carousels so I am bookmarking this for future use. My favorite in Paris is the one near the Eiffel Tower but I have also been on several others throughout the city that have already been mentioned here. Now I have to book a trip during Christmas and go from arrondissement to arrondissement to ride them all. Thank you Heather for asking a question I should have asked years ago.

"If ever you come to Paris during Christmas season, there is a free carousel in every arrondissement of the city"

When I was in Paris this last Christmas, the most cool carousel was in the Jardins des Plantes near the Musée National d'Histoire Naturelle (Museum of Natural History).

This carousel had dinosaurs and a lot of other crazy looking reptile-like creatures (yes, I was sober). If I ever get my trip report posted on my blog site, I have a really good picture of it.

((H))

There's one in the Bois de Boulogne, too, that my kids used to love, right at the entrance to the Jardin d'Acclimation (which itself is a huge children's park that your kids would love).