A 90 minutes walk around Parc Monceau.

This very leisurely walk passes through the exquisite late 18th-century Parc Monceau. It then follows a route along surrounding streets, where groups of opulent mansions stunningly convey the magnificence in which some Parisians live.

The walk starts at the Monceau metro station, on the boulevard de Courcelles. You will enter the Parc where Nikola ledoux 18th century toll house stands. Each side has beautiful gilded 19th-century wrought iron gates, they support ornate lampposts.

If you take the second path on the left you will come across the house of Guy de Maupassant, a 19th-century French author. This is only one of a series of six Belle Epoque monuments of prominent French writers and musicians which are scattered throughout the Parc Monceau.

Straight ahead is is a moss -covered colonnade running around a tiny lake. Walk around the colonnade and under a 16th-century arch, actually transported from the old Paris Hotel de Ville.

 

If you want to re-enter the parc , turn left into the second small winding path, which is bordered by an 18th-centurymossy pyramid, antique tombs and a stone arcade , an obelisk and a small Chinese pagoda.

Five great walks in Paris.

Paris is a city for walking . It is more compact and easier to get around than many other great capitals. Most of its magnificent sites are within walking distance of one another, and they are close to the central part of the city, the Ile de la cite. Paris also offers a wealth of lesser known but equally remarkable sections whose special history, architecture and local customs reveal to the visitor other facets of the city.

The walks introduce the visitor to the subtle details and contrasts that contribute to the special character of each district. These include cafes , street markets, quirky churches, canals , gardens, old village streets and bridges, all truly rich in literary, artistic and historical associations. Everywhere you are in Paris pas and present blend, in the changing and vibrant life of the modern city.

The walks contrast the smart areas of Auteuil , Monceau and l’ile Saint Louis with old working -class areas of Montmartre and Saint – Martin Auteuil is renowned for its Luxury modern residential architecture, Monceau for its somptuous second empire mansions and L’Ile Saint Louis for its ancien regime town houses, tree-lined river quays, narrow streets and film- star and literary residents. Village streets that were once home to famous artists and bohemians still enrich Montmartre, and the old fashion charm of the iron foot bridges survives along the old industrial canal St-Martin.

All the walk areas are readily accessible by public transportation and the nearest metro stations and bus routes are listed in the tips in the tips for walkers boxes. There are also suggestions on resting points such as cfes, restaurants, gardens and squares, along each routes.