Last Updated on January 20, 2024 by April Nicole
If you’re looking for some unusual outdoor places to visit in Paris, you’ve come to the right place! In this article, we’ll take a look at five of the most unique outdoor spots in the City of Lights. From a hidden garden in the Montmartre district to a secret gardens in the city, there’s something for everyone to enjoy. So, without further ado, let’s get started!
If you are in a hurry, here’s a summary of unusual outdoor places in Paris:
Unusual Outdoor Places in Paris Map
Rue des Thermopyles
Rue des Thermopyles, a little oasis of greenery, is situated in the center of the Plaisance neighborhood in the 14th arrondissement. The attractively bright shutters and doors are adorned with intricate decorations by wisteria and climbing ivy that crawl the walls.
Originally, this narrow passage was only a simple passageway that looked out over the old castle in Maine, a small hunting area. It mostly accepted working-class families up to the 1940s. The roadway soon established itself as Montparnasse’s back yard. The miniature aerial bridges created by wisteria between the buildings are one of the many charming elements that make this street. They are especially beautiful in the spring. The fresco painted on the pavement by the Parisian street artist COMBO adds some color. Anyone who traverses the alley feels as though their surroundings have changed due to its bucolic beauty.
Arènes de Lutèce
The Arènes de Lutèce, in the 5th arrondissement of Paris, are among the city’s oldest structures, second only to the obelisk of the Concorde in age. They date to the first century. The Gallo-Roman amphitheater was unique in that it served both the purposes of an arena and a theater.
The western exposure of the Arena of Lutetia provided for ideal actor lighting during afternoon theatrical performances in antiquity. In addition, the players delivered their lines in elevated niches with sound projection so that the roughly 17,000 audience members could hear them. The still-present recesses now house seats for hikers. The location was on the verge of disappearing in the nineteenth century. In fact, the government sought to convert the area into omnibus garages. Victor Hugo and others of his contemporaries assisted in saving and restoring the place by recalling the history and significance of these relics. Today’s amphitheater is a charming, historically significant public park where petanque players have taken the place of gladiators.
Square des Peupliers
The Square des Peupliers, which is actually a street, is situated on the Moulin-des-Prés between numbers 68 and 72. The charming paved alley, which forms a circle around a core cluster of homes, is green and only used by pedestrians.
Small gardens with lush, colorful foliage give the lane its particular beauty. Wisteria, ivy, lilac, roses, and other plants bloom with happiness on the route, forming natural bridges in certain spots. The vintage street lighting and the wrought iron gates that enclose the various homes provide a special and relaxing ambience. On area that had long belonged to the hamlet of Gentilly, the Square des Peupliers was established in the 20th century. This tiny community was built along the Bièvre and is made up of lovely rural houses and artisanal regions. The Bièvre had been covered when Haussmann worked to sanitize and urbanize Paris in the middle of the nineteenth century.
Campagne à Paris
The 20th arrondissement of Paris has the neighborhood known as “Campagne à Paris”. This neighborhood was established in 1907 by the clergyman Sully Lombard to make it easier for laborers and those with low incomes to own property. The neighborhood is made up of a collection of pavilions that are situated close to the Porte de Bagnolet at the top of a hill.
This island of six beautiful alleyways, which was built in around twenty years at the beginning of the twentieth century, emanates a special and serene ambiance. A rare pleasure in Paris, the neighborhood’s constant stillness gives the area a priceless bonus. The attractive pavilions are cohesive in their design and each has a distinct personality. The “Countryside in Paris” is a unique location due to the sense of complete seclusion from the rest of the city. Even if the working classes are no longer welcome here, this area of the city nevertheless ranks among the best for exotic strolls in Paris.
The Medici Fountain
The easternmost part of the Luxembourg Gardens in Paris’ sixth arrondissement is where you’ll find the Medici fountain. It is one of Paris’s most lovely and charming locations because to its pond and ivy curtains. Today, people come here to read in the shade, daydream, or to share a kiss.
Originally known as the Cave of Luxembourg, Marie de Medici ordered the Medici fountain from the Florentine architect Thomas Francine in 1630. The former French monarch, who had longings for her home Italy, sought to recover the ambience of the fountains and nymphaeum found in Florence’s Boboli Gardens. The Luxembourg Cave, originally only a portico, has undergone several renovations to become a fountain. A 50-meter-long water basin surrounded by a plane tree avenue was created by Alphonse de Gisors in 1862. Auguste Ottin created the contemporary sculpture. It depicts Polyphemus catching Galatea off guard when she is in the shepherd Acis’ arms.
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