An hour in Parc Monceau, the 8th arrondissement's romantic garden
By Rédaction My Sweet Paris · Published 23 September 2026
Around twenty minutes on foot from rue Pasquier is all it takes for a change of scenery. Parc Monceau is one of the most elegant gardens in Paris, perfect for an hour's breather between meetings.
On the programme
Paris Gardens Festival
A whole weekend of gardening workshops, tours and meetings with gardeners, tree surgeons and beekeepers. Over 150 venues take part, including Parc Monceau in the 8th; the main village is at Parc de Choisy (13th).
- Dates
- From 26 September 2026 to 27 September 2026
- Venue
- Parc de Choisy (village principal) et plus de 150 lieux, Parc de Choisy, 75013 Paris
- Price
- Free. Saturday and Sunday, 2 pm – 7 pm.
A garden of follies
In 1778 the Duke of Chartres commissioned a pleasure garden here, designed by Carmontelle and dotted with follies: a pagoda, ruins, windmills, a pyramid… A few treasures remain today, starting with the naumachia, an oval pond lined by a Corinthian colonnade that came from a 16th-century monument.
Our route
- Walk in through the rotunda on boulevard de Courcelles, opposite Monceau metro station.
- Follow the main path to the naumachia: it is the most photogenic spot in the park, especially late in the day.
- Stop on the lawns or on a shaded bench under the tall trees, then leave via avenue Vélasquez, lined with private mansions.
This weekend: the Paris Gardens Festival
On 26 and 27 September, Parc Monceau is one of the venues of the Paris Gardens Festival: free workshops and meetings from 2 pm to 7 pm.
Keep exploring
- More ideas for the time you have: Discover Paris
- Lace up your trainers: Run in Paris
Practical information
- Entrances: 35 boulevard de Courcelles, avenue Vélasquez, avenue Van Dyck and avenue Ruysdael (75008). Metro Monceau (line 2).
- Open every day: in September from 7 am to 9 pm, from October to the end of April from 7 am to 8 pm (paris.fr).
- Free entry. About a 20-minute walk from the hotel (estimate).
Read next
Sources
- Ville de Paris — Parc Monceau — 23 September 2026
- Ville de Paris — Fête des jardins — 23 September 2026
- Histoires de Paris — La naumachie du parc Monceau — 23 September 2026