Montsouris Park

Ideally located between the busy Rue d'Alésia and the International University Campus in Paris in the 14th arrondissement, not far from the Porte d'Orléans Metro station, Montsouris Park offers Parisians and passing tourists a wonderful green space, one of the biggest in the capital, that's an ideal place for a stroll.

Inaugurated under Napoleon III in 1869, it's a beautiful English-style park of fifteen hectares with many species of trees and beautiful sculptures. In particular you can admire many centuries-old, remarkable trees, such as a Chinese parasol tree, a persimmon and a Lebanese cedar, which provide much-appreciated shade for a rest or an improvised picnic. As you wander along the peaceful lake, you can also see many species of birds such as the Canada goose, the European crested tit, or the grey heron, which live in the park. The park also includes a weather station and the Mire du Sud, a monument standing four metres high and marking the approximate location of the Paris meridian. A charming bandstand also offers regular free concerts from May to September.

Opposite Montsouris Park, on the other side of Boulevard des Maréchaux, lies the park of the International University Campus, a unique place with exceptional architecture, where the student houses built between 1925 and 1969 come in a wide variety of styles.