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Famed most for its monuments and boulevards, Paris doesn’t rank as one of Europe’s greenest cities. But the City of Light still boasts around 480 parks and gardens dotted across the centre and suburbs. They range from verdant squares such as the Place des Vosges to the hundreds of hectares at the Bois de Boulogne parkland. We’ve stayed small scale and chosen 12 of the best gardens of Paris. All have different styles and vibes, but all offer a welcome oasis of green and the perfect spot for time out from sightseeing.
Best garden in Paris for aesthetics – Place des Vosges
Perfectly symmetrical, this historic square in the Marais has nine houses on each side and is a must-visit for anyone visiting Paris. As well as very pleasing on the eye, the square is also a haven of peace and quiet in the heart of the city. Once paved in sand for tournaments and jousts that took place regularly in the square, the Place des Vosges now follows the layout of a formal garden.
Did you know? Victor Hugo lived at No 6 on the square for 16 years and his home is now a museum dedicated to his life and work.
Best garden in Paris for river views – Place du Vert-Galant
Sitting on the western tip of the Île de la Cité, these tiny gardens are one of the best places to sit and watch Paris go by on the water. The Seine divides neatly at the gardens’ edge and you have unrivalled views of the Louvre in the west. It’s also a perfect spot for watching a Parisian sunset under the shade of a willow or chestnut tree.
Did you know? The gardens are named after King Henri IV, the ‘old gallant’ (aka womaniser). You can see his statue at the top of the steps down to the gardens.
Best garden in Paris for grandeur – Jardin du Luxembourg
Also one of the largest and most popular parks and gardens among locals and tourists, the Jardin du Luxembourg has a distinct Italian flavour both in its architecture and design. Its creator, Marie de Medici based the palace and grounds on the Boboli Gardens in Florence.
The octagonal lake is a favourite with Parisian children who float vintage sailboats on its water and enjoy shows at the puppet theatre. Among the vibrant flowers and shrubs, there are more than 100 statutes and several fountains including the Fontaine de Médicis.
Did you know? The northwest corner of the gardens is the most popular place to play chess in Paris and amateurs gather daily for games.
Best garden in Paris for a touch of controversy – Jardins du Palais Royal
Tucked away near the Louvre, the Royal Palace gardens date back to 1633 when they were designed for Cardinal Richelieu. One of the highlights in these formal gardens, however, is much more modern and decidedly controversial. The 260 black and white striped octagonal columns, an art installation set up by Daniel Buren in 1985, fill the central patio and are still viewed by traditionalists as an afront to classical architecture.
Did you know? The square surrounding the Jardins du Palais Royal has strong literary connections – the writers Jean Cocteau, Colette and Jean Marais all lived here.
Best garden in Paris for people watching – Jardin des Tuileries
Probably the most famous green space in Paris, the Tuileries link the Louvre to the Place de la Concorde and provide one of the city’s longest promenades. Built on the site of tile factories (hence their name), these gardens have a Neoclassical design and include avenues of chestnuts and limes intersected by fountains and sculptures. Green metal seats are laid out around the fountains in the park and are favourites with locals to soak up the sun.
Did you know? The Terrasse du Bord de l’Eau on the Seine side of the Tuileries is home to several sculptures including the world-famous Rodin kiss.
See the best of Paris from the Seine
One of the best views of the Jardin des Tuileries comes from the River Seine. Discover what else you can see from the water when you visit the City of Light. Start here
Best garden in Paris for follies – Parc Monceau
Also known as the Jardin des Rêves, Parc Monceau is a beautiful garden with a certain dreamlike quality. Designed in the late 18th century by Louis Carmontelle, the park includes an Egyptian pyramid, a Greek colonnade and a Venetian bridge. As well as the follies, other attractions include the English garden, created by Scottish landscape designer Thomas Blaikie.
Did you know? This park in Paris saw the world’s first parachute descent in 1797.
Best garden in Paris for festivals – Parc Floral
One of the four botanical gardens in the city and one of the newer gardens in Paris, Parc Floral includes more than 3,000 species of plants. Created at the heart of the Bois de Vincennes in 1969, it holds events and hosts several key festivals in Paris. They include the Paris Jazz Festival and Festival Classique au Vert.
Did you know? The park includes a mini-golf course whose 18 holes each showcase a miniature sized Paris monument.
Best garden in Paris for plants – Jardin des Plantes
Aptly named, the Jardin des Plantes is home to more than 10,000 species of plants and trees in the Bois de Boulogne. Created as a centre for science and botany, the 400-year-old gardens include highlights such as the rose, winter and alpine gardens as well as elegant greenhouses. The oldest zoo in France is another popular attraction especially for families.
Did you know? Henri Becquerel discovered radioactivity at these gardens in Paris in 1896.
Best garden in Paris for English style – Square du Temple
One of the 24 city squares designed by Haussman and Adolphe Alphand, these pretty gardens sit at the heart of the Marais. Their site once housed a fortress built by the Knights Templar, which later became a palace and then a prison. Louis XVI and his Dauphin son were imprisoned here before their execution. You’d never guess the rather macabre past in the gardens, landscaped in the English style with a pond and waterfall plus several fine tall trees.
Did you know? The two tallest trees in this garden are an 18-metre Turkish hazel and a 17-metre Japanese pagoda tree.
Best garden in Paris for greenhouses – Jardin des Serres Auteuil
Another member of the Paris botanical garden quartet to visit in Paris, this green space specialises in historic greenhouses. The five glass palaces date back to 1898 and the largest exhibits one of Europe’s finest palm collections together with birds and carp. The seasonal orchid and begonia displays are also horticultural highlights for garden lovers.
Did you know? 14 cast-iron masks line one wall of the garden, reputedly to keep evil spirits at bay. Their author is unknown but they came from the Rodin workshop.
Best garden in Paris for size – Parc Montsouris
Parc Montsouris ranks as the second largest public park in the city. Designed by Alphand in 1865, it includes a large lake, plenty of fine trees and sculptures. You can also see the Mire du Sud, an obelisk supposedly marking the Paris meridian, actually 70 metres to the east.
Did you know? This park in Paris gets its name (Mice Mountain) from the hundreds of rodents who lived on the land when the park was built.
Best future gardens in Paris – everywhere
Visitors to Paris over the next decade will find that some of the best gardens in Paris are brand new and that they’re everywhere! The current mayor of Paris, Anne Hidalgo, has ambitious plans for making the city greener and with verdant results so far.
In 2020, Paris added almost eight hectares of green space and plans to plant more than 170,000 trees by 2026. By which time, four ‘urban forests’ should be blooming around emblematic sights such as the Hôtel de Ville, Gare de Lyon and Opéra Garnier.
And two of the most iconic parts of Paris are also on track for a green facelift. The Eiffel Tower will see a vast new park area around its ‘legs’ and the Champs-Élysées is earmarked for a €250 million makeover that will include long tree tunnels to enhance the avenue’s greenery and adding to the city’s beautiful parks and gardens.
See Paris without the crowds
Get the best views of Paris to yourself with a River Seine vacation. Discover Paris and its gardens and parks from the waterways and see a whole other side to this world famous city:
What else is there to see in Paris?
- 5 iconic Paris sights to see from the river Seine
- Trace the footsteps of artists inspired by Paris
- Experience Paris in winter and visit a Christmas market
- See Paris through the words and pictures of the best France blogs
- Some of our favourite things to see, do and experience in Champagne-Ardenne
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