12 Iconic Paris Parks with Fascinating Histories You Need to Discover

8. Parc Montsouris

Photo: Zgalus (CC BY-SA 3.0)

Created: 1869
Size: 15 hectares
Location: 14th arrondissement
Metro Station: Cité Universitaire

Commissioned by Napoleon III in 1865, Parc Montsouris was designed by Jean-Charles Alphand as part of Paris’s greenbelt expansion. This English-style park on the city’s southern edge includes meadows, a lake, and statues. It's popular for peaceful walks and picnics among locals and students from nearby universities.