Parc des Buttes-Chaumont

Overview

Located in the culturally diverse 19th arrondissement, Parc des Buttes-Chaumont is Paris's most dramatic and wildly romantic landscape park. Built on steep, former limestone and gypsum quarries, it offers a stunning, vertical escape from the flat city grids.

Highlights

• The Temple de la Sibylle: A miniature Roman temple perched precariously atop a towering 50-metre cliff rising directly out of the central lake.
• The Suspension Bridge: A thrilling, slightly swaying 63-metre footbridge designed by Gustave Eiffel crossing high above the water.
• The Grotto: A dark, atmospheric artificial cave featuring fake stalactites and a cascading 20-metre waterfall.

History

Opened in 1867 during the reign of Napoleon III, the site was previously a gruesome gallows and a gritty municipal dump. Baron Haussmann and engineer Jean-Charles Alphand completely completely transformed the toxic landscape into a lush, incredibly engineered public pleasure garden.

Visitor Tips

• Picnics: The steep, grassy slopes offer excellent views of Sacré-Cœur and are extremely popular with young Parisians for weekend picnics.
• Rosa Bonheur: Visit the impossibly popular guinguette (tavern) located inside the park for drinks and dancing in the evening.
• Duration: 1–2 hours. The steep paths require some effort.