In the 14th arrondissement of Paris, not far from the Cité Universitaire (and its magnificent park, which we also recommend!), Parc Montsouris offers a bubble of greenery right in the heart of the city, with its century-old trees, its small pond populated by ducks and koi carp, and its beautiful walkways, perfect for a jog or a stroll!
Home to 1,400 trees (many of them over a hundred years old), Parc Montsouris hasn't always been a green space: in the past, it was the site of the Montrouge quarries, which served as a necropolis ( over 6 million souls are said to be buried here). At the instigation of Napoleon III, work began on the Parc Montsouris, which was completed in 1878, after complications due to the war with Prussia in 1870.
The project was entrusted to theengineer Alphand, who created a magnificent 15-hectare English garden inspired by the great London parks. The name Montsouris comes from "Moque Souris", a reference to a time when the mills on the Bièvre were inhabited by rodents.
With the whole family, it's an ideal place to take a ride on the merry-go-round or a pony, or to play on the swings... In fine weather, you can enjoy a book on one of the benches set up around the park's small lake, from where you can also watch the green-necked ducks swim and dive!
Dates and Opening Time
Starts November 26, 2025
Location
Parc Montsouris
Boulevard Jourdan
75014 Paris 14
Prices
Free
Official website
www.paris.fr
