Parc des Buttes Chaumont

By parisian on 20/08/2009 in Attractions

The Parc des Buttes Chaumont is a public garden situated in the 19th arrondissement of Paris, France. The name of the park is composed of two words, buttes (hills or heights), and Chaumont, which is probably a contraction of chauve (bald) and mont (mount). The park is the third largest of its kind in Paris encompassing over 5 kilometers of trails and paths. The main feature of the park is the Belvedere (or Temple) of Sybil which sits at the top of an island in the middle of a lake.

Description

The attractions of the Parc des Buttes Chaumont are numerous. The park includes several cliffs and bridges, a grotto that encloses a 20-meter high waterfall, a lake, and several English and Chinese gardens.

The most prominent feature is the belvedere of Sybil, which sits atop a 30 meter rocky peak at the top of an island partially surrounded by a lake. The belvedere, added to the park in 1869, is a Corinthian-style monument, modeled after the ancient Roman temple of Sybil in Tivoli, Italy.

A 63 meter long suspension bridge, renovated in 2009, crosses the lake and allows access to the island. A 22 meter high bridge, known as the “suicide bridge”, allows access to the belvedere from the south side of the park.

The park boasts many varieties of indigenous and exotic trees (many of which are Asian species): in particular, several cedars of Lebanon planted in 1880, Himalayan cedars, Ginko Biloba, Byzantine hazelnuts, Siberian elms, European hollies, and bamboo-leafed prickly ashes, among many others.

The main entrance to the park is at Place Armand-Carrel where the mairie (town hall) of the 19th arrondissement is located. There are five other large gates to the park: Porte Bolivar, Porte de la Villette, Porte Secrétan, Porte de Crimée, and Porte Fessart, as well as seven smaller gates on the park perimeter.

The park currently hosts three restaurants (Pavillon du Lac, Pavillon Puebla, and Rosa Bonheur), two reception halls, two Guignol theatres, two Waffle Stands, and several other attractions for children. Notably, in 1892, the two Guignol theatres were established in the park and have become popular attractions for generations of visitors. In addition, as part of a city-wide wireless internet-access scheme, the park has activated four wi-fi zones.

History

The park was developed as part of plans for the remodeling of Paris directed by Baron Haussmann. The actual development of the park was carried out by the engineer, Jean-Charles Alphand, supported by horticulturist Jean-Pierre Barillet-Deschamps, and architect Gabriel Davioud. The site of the park was a former gypsum and limestone quarry mined for the construction of buildings in Paris and the United States. The park was commissioned by the French Emperor, Napoleon III, after the land was annexed to Paris in 1860. After four years of construction, it was opened as part of the festivities of the Universal Exhibition in 1867. (Text Source: Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia)

Parc des Buttes Chaumont is located in the 19th arrondissement of Paris. So, you may want to see;