Is it possible to picnic in Parc Monceau or the Tuileries (PARIS)??
 

I was wondering if Parc Monceau and the Tuileries garden are places where you can picnic, or are they "Keep-Off-of-the-Grass"-type places?

Thanks for your help.

Don't know about Parc Monceau but you CAN picnic at Tuileries and also Luxembourg.

:)

Thanks, Brenda!

But you may not be able to go on the grass!

PS: When we were in Luxembourg Gardens, you could not go on the grass.

If you really want to spread out on the grass and have a relaxing picnic, one of the best spots is the Parc Andre-Citroen in the 15th. You will see lots of French families there with blankets on the grass, enjoying picnics while their kids run around.
Otherwise, IMHO, the PM and Tuileries are more of the eat a sandwich or light snack at a bench type of place rather than real picnic spots.

You can picnic on the grass in certain areas of the Champ de Mars, at Parc Montsouris, and at Parc de Buttes-Chaumont. Otherwise you can sit on a bench and enjoy a picnic that way. Another popular place is on the Pont des Arts, from what I've read. I don't recall anyone being allowed on the grass at Tuileries, Luxembourg and maybe Parc Monceau (I sat on a bench there, lots of joggers and school children but don't think I saw anyone on the grass).

I remember that in the Jardin du Luxemburg I was able to picnic on the grass and same with the Parc André Citroën.

The new mayor of Paris has made sitting on the grass permissible in certain areas of each park...you must look for the signs! But those areas are also open for doggies..so watch out!

I'd check out the benches~

I admit I'm not a big picnic buff, just doesn't appeal to me (prefer restaurants), but I wouldn't consider the Tuileries a place for a picnic, the gardens are too formal. They do have some tables and benches in one area, I think (not sure), but I think that may belong to the vendors.

Transitbuddie, when you say you were able to picnic in Luxembourg on the grass, do you just mean you did it and didn't get caught, or that you picnicked by sitting on a bench? I know they have signs there forbidding you to sit on the grass, but they do have some tables I think anyone could sit at without much problem around the are where they sell things (it's under the tres and basically has dirt, not grass).

I had lunch on a bench in the tuileries and shared some with the many birds.

If you hurry, you can find 'Military Capris'on eBay:

http://linktrim.com/26c
:)

whoa, wrong thread - must be past my bedtime ! 'night....

I think we could be happy with a bench...

Thank you, All, for your input!

The ultimate Paris picnic, IMO, is to sit at water-level on one of the quieter quais -- say, on the Ile St Louis. Or by the Canal St. Martin.

I definitely second tedgales suggestion!
A bench or one of the nice chairs in the Luxembourg Gardens served us well several times.
You will see other Parisians with their baguette, having a bite while sitting in a bit of sun in the gardens or along a wall by the Seine.

What about the gardens at the Rodin museum. Not finding the time for a picnic there was one of my biggest disappointments of my trip last year. I'd read that it is the best place for a picnic in Paris.

starrsville, Yes! sighing, I was just there and need to go back already!
I think I need to stop reading everything Paris on here :D

Hi Starrsville. When I was at the Rodin last year, I don't recall seeing any picnickers, but there is an outdoor restuaruant on the garden grounds.

Nope, when researching my trip I read (in more than one place I think) that the garden is a wonderful "secret" picnic place and to go there even if you don't go in the building.

I have to admit I even took a picnic cloth along for the event - that did not happen on that trip.

I'll see if I can find something on this forum. If it wasn't here, it would be in one of several guidebooks I bought and read.

I hope you're right! What a beautiful place for a picnic.

I'm not sure it would be "kosher" to bring your own picnic to the Rodin, since they sell food in the garden.

I learned my lesson from the fall, when we brought our lunch and drinks to the hotel courtyard (in Chinon) and the manager gently chided us for it, since the courtyard is off the bar area of the hotel.

Here's one link on this forum - yk's comment -
http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...amp;dirtyBit=1

But, that's not where I first learned about it. The passage I read was very descriptive about the scupltures as well.

My guidebooks are packed up but I found a Rick Steves 2002. He says there's a good self-serve cafeteria as well as "idyllic picnic spots in the family-friendly back garden" on page 61.

This is not the guidebook I used that has the beautifully descriptive passage about picnicing in Rodin's garden. It's just the only one I have with me because I lent it out to someone who returned it.

The suggestion has been on this board more than once and is in more than one guidebook so I hope no one experiences any difficulties. I WILL picnic there one day!

The "back garden" of the Rodin might refer to a section truly at the very back of the property, which is somewhat concealed by a partial wall or tall hedges, just past the last pond/fountain. See:
http://linktrim.com/26k