Of course not everything was about settling in. It was still summer, and in general the weather was nice and we tried to spend time outdoors as much as possible. One of the places we went to was Parc Monceau, a beautiful park on Boulevard de Courcelles, near our apartment. It also happened to be right next to the kids' school. The park is not as known as other parks in Paris such as Jardin des Tuileries and Jardin du Luxembourg because it's not in a tourist area, but it's very popular with local residents and I knew we'd be going there a lot after school.
Parc Monceau was the first new public park in Paris to be remade by Baron Haussmann as part of the grand transformation of Paris begun by Napoleon III. Among other things, the alleys within the park were widened and paved so that carriages could drive through the park. The parc has been used as a backdrop for many movies, such as "Paris, Je T'aime" and "Tell No One," and was used as a model by painters such as Monet and Caillebotte.
At the main entrance, right next to the Monceau metro stop, is a Rotunda that was part of the Farmers-General Wall, built between 1784 and 1791 to ensure the payment of a toll on goods entering Paris.
At the main entrance, right next to the Monceau metro stop, is a Rotunda that was part of the Farmers-General Wall, built between 1784 and 1791 to ensure the payment of a toll on goods entering Paris.
The original park predates the French Revolution and does not resemble the typical traditional French garden; it has a more of an English style, with its informal layout, and includes plenty of curved walkways, play areas for children, and the ubiquitous merry-go-round. There's even a kiosk that sells crêpes.
It has a few architectural features, including a small Egyptian pyramid, a Venetian bridge (modeled after the Rialto bridge in Venice), a Dutch windmill, and Corinthian pillars around the pond, as well as statues of famous French figures such as Guy de Maupassant. The park is open from sunrise to sunset, except for the private residences located directly on the park, which have 24-hour access to the grounds.
We'd read the autumn starts early in Paris, and it's true, it's early September and there already are plenty of leaves on the ground.