As Mr. Selfish and I were looking for a museum, we strolled through Parc Monceau in the 17th Arrondissement. It was an unexpected surprise since the park was particularly tranquil and serene.

In 1769, the Duke of Chartres purchased the lot on which Parc Monceau sits and sought to built a garden in the English style (as opposed to the French style). The Duke also added random small-scale architectural features such as a windmill, pyramid, and some Corinthian pillars. When the Duke was killed in 1793 during the French Revolution, the park was sold to the City of Paris.

It was a very interesting park, and Mr. Selfish and I were glad to have happened upon it.  Parc Monceau also had the most awesome carousel I’ve ever seen; it looked to be Jules Verne themed.

Disclaimer: There is some dispute as to whether Parc Monceau is in the 8th or the 17th Arrondissement. Based on the map, it looks like it borders both arrondissementsto me. However, since I have tons of blogging material for the 8th, I will consider Parc Monceau as being in the 17th.

Don’t forget to check out my recommendations for the other arrondissements in Paris here.