Pleasant Perches from which to Ponder Paris?
 

In my travels to cities I know really well I have come up with some favorite perches - often park benches - from which to ponder the Parisian scene - this often involves a picnic with a view or it may just be a nice place to sit as a respite from the rigors of sightseeing.

Do you have any favorite personal Parisian pondering perches?

Here's My Favroites:

PLACE DE LA CONCORDE - at the end of the Tuileries garden where they from up high overlook the always busy hectic Place de la Concorde. I love th see Parisian drivers noisily navigate the maze of traffic constantly flowing thru this - my imagination sees the guillotine in places here now marked by large statues. And the views up toward the Champs-Elysees are appetizing as well.

THE TUILERIES GARDENS PROPER - I love to sit in one of those arm chairs (which at one time you had to pay to sit in but now seems free) overlooking the fountain where kids have fun renting and operating small wooden sail boats - so quintessentially Parisian!

LUXEMBOURG GARDENS - Ah at noon - the long Parisian noon hour where locals flock here to picnique - a favorite French activity on a nice day - I love to see the incessant joggers circling this lovely park.

THE BANKS OF THE SEINE - Near Notre-Dame Cathedral - plop down on the old quays and watch the boats, both tourist and commercial barges, ply the river - if you go to the outdoor statue park on the Left Bank just upstream from Notre-Dame you can see the river traffic and the rear of Notre-Dame with all its flying buttresses.

MONMARTRE - In front of the Sacre Couer on the steps that overlook much of Paris spread out far below - though this area can get a little too crowded at times.

TROCADERO - The wonderful fountains and terrraces smack opposite the Eiffel Tower - plop down in one of the iron arm chairs and gaze at the Eiffel Tower as well as catching the river traffic. I enjoy the many local skateboarders and skaters or break dancers that often congregate here.

WELL THOSE ARE SOME OF MY PARISIAN POWER PONDERING POINTS - DO YOU HAVE ANY?

You definitely have hit some good spots. I love them all.
I'll add to your list:

PLACE DE VOSGES - having lunch, a coffee or wine in that stunning square is always a place to ponder, or maybe just a short time sitting on a bench looking at the fountain.

THE LITTLE PARK BEHIND NOTRE DAME - this has always been a favorite of ours to people watch. It's fun to wattch them decide how they are going to get just the right phhoto.

LE FLORE EN ILE - a table at the bridge listening to the entertainers and watching the world go by.

The benches along the Bassin de l'Arsenal, between the Seine and the Bastille, with nice gardens and all the houseboats in the marina and all the office workers from the neighborhood eating their lunches along the banks on a nice day.

TPAYT beat me to the PLACE DES VOSGES, my absolute favorite place to sit a spell, and I'll add:

SQUARE DU VERT GALANT on the Ile de la Cité - Near the Pont Neuf - Wonderful views to both banks of the Seine and the river itself.

STRAVINSKY FOUNTAIN - next to the Pompidou Center - Colorful, whimsical, smile-inducing.

The Buttes Chaumont and the Promenade Plantée

Good ones, for sure! But my personal favourite is the Fontaine de Medicis in Luxembourg Garden.

I'll be sitting there with 2010!

We were at the gorgeous Fontaine de Medicis in June with our 13 yr. old GD. Trying to explain the meaning of it, all she could talk about were the HUGE fish in the pond in front of it---kids!

Square du Temple, Jardin des Plantes, and the Jardin Tino Rossi (scuplture and green space along the Seine on the Left Bank between Pont de Sully and Pont d'Austerlitz).

Palais Royale, a chair at the fountain, Parc Monceau.

Ahhh! PARK MONCEAU - thanks for reminding me of another lovely spot.

The banks of the Seine. Loved sitting near a bridge and people watching but also love looking at the house boats. Pondering if I could live on a boat in Paris.THE TUILERIES GARDENS PROPER, Have they cleaned up the rats there yet?

The view of Paris from the perch atop PARC BELLEVILLE in the 20th Arrondissement is sublime -- though certainly not as well known as some of the others mentioned above. Another lesser known perch is that on top of the steps under the ARCH at LA DEFENSE, where one can see, to the east, the Arc de Triomphe and other famous sites. To the south, we enjoy walking to and sitting on a bench lakeside at PARC MONTSOURIS.

The park behind the Cluny.

billandcindy - thanks for the Belleville place - I thought there must be a perch up on that high up part of Paris - the short film The Red Balloon was shot there and it shows all of Paris laid out below.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e2Y1tRBOXfA

(La Balloon Rouge in French!

Ooh yes, I'd forgotten about the top of the Parc Belleville. It's an interesting contrast between the gentrified bits at the top and the more mixed/alternative atmosphere once you get to the bottom.

http://autolycus-london.blogspot.co....-graffiti.html

Though a bit of a trek from the center at times I go to Suresnes and walk to the Parc Saint Cloud from that train station - here is a wonderful perched high up view of the whole Paris basin lovingly laid out far below.

Yup Belleville Park may be one of the best views it seems - ah next time in Paris nice to have something new to go to.

the Galleries Lafayette or its nieghboring famous department store whose name escapes me used to at least have roof-top cafes with of course smashing views of Paris laid out below. wonder if they still do?

You may be thinking of the cafe on the roof of the Printemps store.

http://www.yelp.com/biz/deli-cieux-paris