Paris and the Paris region always have something to surprise you! If you're used to strolling through its most emblematic parks and gardens, perhaps now you'd like to discover some of Paris' most unusual spots?
Just the thing! The region is brimming with original parks and gardens that are bound to surprise you! From little-known monuments to spots where nature reigns supreme, from exotic gardens to Alice's Wonderland-style gardens, unusual green spaces abound in and around Paris.
But you still need to know the right addresses... Come on, we're here to help you enjoy a stroll that's as relaxing as it issurprising. These verdant spots are the perfect place to relax with friends, take some time for yourself, read a good book, and why not even organize a photo shoot surrounded by hundreds of flowers revealing their most beautiful assets and shimmering colors.
Shall we go for a walk? We're off!
The Maison de Balzac, home of the famous writer, and its secret garden overlooking the Eiffel Tower
The Maison de Balzac, one of the famous writer's homes, is one of the capital's literary gems, located in the 16th arrondissement of Paris. This house-museum also boasts an incredible garden overlooking the Eiffel Tower, as well as a café. [Read more]
The Lutetia Arena, a Gallo-Roman amphitheater in the heart of Paris
Did you know about the Arènes de Lutèce? This well-preserved Gallo-Roman amphitheatre, located in the heart of the Arènes de Lutèce square in Paris, is a true symbol of the Parisian art of living! [Read more]
Discover Bagatelle Park, its rose garden and sublime gardens
The Parc de Bagatelle awaits you on the Bois de Boulogne side to let you enjoy its enchanting setting. From the Château de Bagatelle to the beautiful rose garden and vegetable patch, this is a magical garden where life is good. [Read more]
Georges Brassens Park, a bubble of countryside in the 15th arrondissement
It's not - by far - the best-known of our major Parisian parks, not very popular compared to giants like Parc de la Villette or Parc des Buttes Chaumont. And yet, the Parc Georges Brassens is particularly exotic, bucolic and poetic, and is always worth a visit. [Read more]
La Coulée Verte de Paris, the unusual and hidden walk from Bastille to Vincennes
Paris's Coulée Verte René-Dumont, formerly known as the Promenade Plantée, is a beautiful, little-known walk for Parisians, taking us on a verdant journey from the Bastille to the Bois de Vincennes over the Viaduc des Arts. It's an unusual and shady way to discover Paris, away from the hustle and bustle of the city. [Read more]
The Parc Floral de Paris Vincennes, its sublime gardens and events
The Parc Floral is the largest park in Paris, located in the Bois de Vincennes, a stone's throw from the Château. In addition to its superb vegetation, it's a giant park with outdoor games for children, mini-golf, Rosalie rides, exhibitions and sales, shows, a butterfly hothouse and many other treasures. [Read more]
The Jardin des Plantes' hidden Alpine garden, a nugget worth discovering
The Jardin des Plantes conceals a magnificent alpine garden. Located between the Grandes Serres and the Menagerie, this garden, which has no entrance doors, is accessible via a hidden underground passage. Here you can discover the rock gardens and wild mountain plants. It's a haven of peace to be (re)discovered all year round. [Read more]
The Pierre-Emmanuel Natural Garden in Paris, where nature reclaims its rights
In Paris, on the edge of the Père Lachaise cemetery, there's an unusual spot where nature has reclaimed its rights. This is the Pierre-Emmanuel natural garden, a refuge for wild plants from the Île-de-France region, revealing a rich biodiversity. [Read more]
The gardens of the Claude Monet house in Giverny are among the most beautiful flowered panoramas in the world
The gardens at Claude Monet's house in Giverny are world-famous. People flock here in spring to see the first blooms and the beautiful wisteria in May, but did you know that the autumn colors are just as beautiful? Dahlias, asters and nasturtiums in profusion mingle with the sublime yellow and red hues of the vines and trees. Discover the gardens on video. [Read more]
Unusual in the Yvelines: the superb waterfall grotto at Parc du Dr Fauvel in Villennes-sur-Seine
Villennes-sur-Seine, a charming commune in the Yvelines department, is home to a little-known treasure: the waterfalls of the Parc Fauvel grotto. Located some 36 kilometers west of Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris, this small town near Poissy on the left bank of the Seine boasts a park that combines history and nature. The park, an example of English romanticism, features an unusual grotto and waterfalls. [Read more]
Le Jardin Yili, the unusual Chinese garden hidden away in the Yvelines
Jardin Yili is the only privately-owned traditional Chinese garden in France. Head for Saint-Rémy-l'Honoré in the Yvelines, about 33 km from Paris, for a change of scenery. Discover this 10,000 m² green space, imbued with spirituality and tranquility, where you can discover the art of Chinese gardens and immerse yourself in a feng shui setting inspired by age-old traditions. [Read more]
Rueil-Malmaison's superb Parc des Impressionnistes, inspired by Monet
The Parc des Impressionnistes in Rueil-Malmaison, located on the banks of the Seine opposite the Ile des Impressionnistes, is a sublime 1.2-hectare park that honors the color palettes of the Impressionists. Water, plants and flowers in abundance recall Claude Monet's garden at Giverny. [Read more]
Parc de l'Amitié, the superb Japanese park in Hauts-de-Seine
Looking for an original park and garden just outside Paris? Head for Rueil-Malmaison in the 92 region to discover the Parc de l'Amitié, an astonishing park full of treasures, including a Japanese garden with its emblematic red bridge and flourishing vegetation. [Read more]
The magnificent Japanese garden at Square Médéric in Colombes
Square Méréric, a pretty neighborhood park in Colombes, boasts a 3,800 m2 Japanese garden featuring bamboos, maples, pruned trees, azaleas and pagodas. It's the perfect place to get away from it all. [Read more]
The Japanese garden at Château de Courances: a bucolic and exotic stroll in the Paris region
The Japanese garden at Château de Courances is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful Japanese gardens around Paris, and particularly so in France. Located in the fabulous Courances estate in Essonne, this Anglo-Japanese garden delights us with its exotic landscapes. [Read more]
The Albert Kahn Museum's superb Japanese garden and other gardens that take us on a journey
The Musée Albert Kahn, which has just reopened its doors, unveils sublime gardens that are a must-see. Conceived as a scenic garden, this 4-hectare space features a magnificent Japanese garden and village, an English garden, a French garden and forests and meadows. A complete change of scenery. [Read more]
A stroll on the Île Verte, a romantic promenade classified as a remarkable garden in Chatenay-Malabry (92)
To get to Chatenay-Malabry, just take the RER B towards Robinson, and get off at the terminus. It's here, between the towns of Sceaux and Chatenay, that you'll discover exceptionally rich green spaces, full of charm and remarkable century-old trees. [Read more]
Thoiry Zoo's new lodges in Terres d'Afrique: an immersion among elephants
After the unusual dens, Thoiry Zoo is now launching a new zone called "Terre d'Afrique", featuring an educational and immersive area with a new Elephant House and 5 cosy lodges where you can sleep in total immersion among the elephants, right in the heart of the African plain. And reservations are now open! [Read more]
The floating cottages on the La Galiotte pond in Yvelines, a real postcard landscape
For a complete change of scenery in the heart of the Île-de-France region, head for the Parc du Peuple de l'Herbe in Carrières-sous-Poissy, in the Yvelines department. With its 113 hectares of wilderness and picturesque ponds, including the étang de La Galiotte dotted with floating chalets, this oasis just a stone's throw from Poissy station offers an authentic experience within the reach of your Navigo pass! [Read more]
Parc de la Poudrerie, a listed green nugget in Sevran (93)
Fifteen kilometers from the Bassin de la Villette, along the Canal de l'Ourcq, lies a lovely 137-hectare forest park in the Seine-Saint-Denis municipalities of Livry-Gargan, Villepinte, Sevran and Vaujours. Combining remnants of the area's industrial past with immense tree-lined avenues, it's one of the green spaces not to be missed for a bike ride, family outing or jogging session... in the 93. [Read more]
Discovering Sonja's Gardens: A four-season Eden in Perray-en-Yvelines
Les Jardins de Sonja, a veritable botanical Eden in Le Perray-en-Yvelines, has been delighting garden lovers since 1980. Discover these sublime hidden gardens with their multiple settings, imagined by landscape designer Sonja Gauron. [Read more]
Parc de la Folie Saint-James in Neuilly-sur-Seine: the unusual park, a jewel of French landscape art
We introduce you to the Parc de la Folie Saint-James in Neuilly-sur-Seine, a French landscaped masterpiece from the XVIIIᵉ century that's well worth a stroll. This picturesque park offers you a plunge into history and the beauty of nature. [Read more]
The Moulin Jaune and its remarkable gardens
Slava the Clown's Yellow Mill is an incredible place to discover. With its remarkable Alice in Wonderland-style garden, it's a unique spot that's a must-see. Please note, however, that it is only open for special events by prior arrangement. [Read more]
The secret Japanese garden at Aincourt in the Val d'Oise
Located in the Val d'Oise, the town of Aincourt hides a superb Japanese garden in the Parc de la Bucaille, close to the medical center. Take a closer look at this exotic, well-kept park, where tranquillity and zenitude reign supreme. [Read more]
The Trianon Estate and the Queen's hamlet
The Domaine de Trianon can be visited separately from the Château. Located two kilometers away, it was once a place of refuge for kings, who found rest and relaxation away from the Court. Created by Louis XV, the estate became the fiefdom of Marie-Antoinette, who modified the grounds and created an entire hamlet, like a small village. [Read more]
The Japanese garden at Parc Edmond de Rothschild in Boulogne
Head for Boulogne-Billancourt to discover the Japanese garden of the Parc de Boulogne, the park of the ruined Château Buchillot, once owned by Edmond de Rothschild. With its waterways, pine trees, maple trees and emblematic red bridges, it's a beautiful, soothing discovery to be made just outside Paris. [Read more]
The lovely Ichikawa Japanese Garden in Issy-les-Moulineaux
The Japanese Garden of ishikawa, just outside Paris, is the result of a partnership between the town of Issy-les-Moulineaux and the Japanese town of Ichikawa. They worked together to create the first truly traditional Japanese public garden in France. We're off to discover this Zen garden, ideal for meditation and relaxation. [Read more]
The Château de Saint-Jean de Beauregard and its Remarkable Garden
The Château de Saint-Jean de Beauregard, located in Essonne in the Parc Naturel Régional de la Haute Vallée de Chevreuse, is a remarkably well-preserved 19th-century château classified as a historic monument. Visitors flock here to discover the grounds, and in particular the Potager, which has been awarded the Jardin Remarquable label. [Read more]
Now it's your turn to enjoy a unique nature walk!
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