Paris Parks. City of Light. Or City of Parks??? Here’s What I Almost Missed.
So I have to admit. I’m a little arrogant about my parks. Being that I live in Colorado, I’m used to having a few million acres of pristine land and natural alpine lakes as my playground. Candidly, urban parks don’t really interest me much. Or they didn’t. Until I got to Paris and saw the sheer beauty and artistic qualities of an urban park done well.
Today’s video and post are done a little different. Instead of a site visit and review, I’m going to tell you why the parks in Paris are amazing and the three qualities they seem to share (for the most part). But first, a little information about Parks in Paris.
- Paris has over 400 Parks today.
- These parks encompass some three thousand hectaces (7,400 acres).
- One my favorites, and perhaps the most famous, Jardin du Tuileries was created in 1564. My other favorite, Jaerdin de Luxembourg in 1512. Both have a rich history
1. Amazing art/scultures.statues or soenthign 2. great landscaping, 3. fountains other water feature.
Characteristic 1. Great Landscaping,
Paris Parks are manicured to a point of perfection. It is as though every tree, branch and leaf has a perfect size and position and the gardeners have so positioned them. Whether it is perfectly trimmed trees, or well planted flowers, the landscaping is perfect.
Characteristic 2: Water Features.
Almost every park I visited had some sort of water feature. Fountains are common and seem to frequently serve as a gathering point where Parisians will sit around fountain reading, socializing, or enjoying a baguette. The Water features seem to be the key focal points of each park.
Characteristic 3: Sculptures Or Other Art.
Parisian parks never seem to disappoint and always seem to integrate some form of art or sculpture. The older parks such as those mentioned above or Parc St. Cloud (Odie’s favorite because of his ability to – possibly illegally – lounge on some amazingly soft and green grass) have grand sculptures.
Newer parks like the elevated gardens and art work on the buildings as you walked through and some minor pieces here and there. Overall, the integration gives a feeling of it all being “one” and the art and landscaping becoming a multi-dimensional canvas of which you are a part.
Final Observations on The Parks of Paris.
One of my favorite days was a random Tuesday when Odie and I hoped on the A line to the L Line to go to Parc St. Cloud (not far from Versailles). While the fountains were not turned on (a shame because I cannot imagine how pretty the park would have been), the landscaping was amazing. The views of Paris and the Eiffel Tower were fantastic. We had lunch at a little cafe on the edge of the parc (L’Orangerie – not to be confused with the amazing museum) where 5 other dogs and their owners had also decided to stop and have a bite. Odie indulged in the rich grass and manicured lawns.
So I leave you with two suggestions depending on how long you will be in Paris. If you will be here two weeks or longer, take a half day (or more), go out to St. Cloud, walk around the park. Read a book by the fountain. Have lunch and observe life in the suburbs of Paris.
If you will be here a week. Go grocery shopping in Paris. Buy a baguette from the boulangerie (almost all are good). Get some cheese from the fromagerie. Maybe even stop by the butcher. Take that haul and a bottle of wine to Tuileries or Luxembourg and pretend you are Parisian. Sit by the fountain letting the warm sun kiss your skin. Enjoy your lunch. And when you are done, take a casual stroll around the Park. Relax. Take a deep breath. And realize that stress-free feeling you got came from free – and may be the memory you are most fond of twenty years from now when you look back at your time in Paris. After all, will you really remember the Egyptian artifact you saw in the Louvre or the sense of excitement you felt when you saw it? Will you remember the sculpture from 1542 or the feeling of total relaxation as you joined, for a brief moment, in a society that has learned life is more than just work and bustling from one location to another – occasionally you need to stop in the Jardin and smell the roses – real or proverbial.
For an In-depth Review:
For a more in-depth review and tour, check out my Youtube video!!! And while you are there please hit the like and subscribe button so you can follow along on my journey and never miss an update on cool things to see or places to go!!!!!