Parc des Buttes-Chaumont

Parc des Buttes-Chaumont is, hands down, my favorite park in Paris, because of the varied landscape, made up of an artificial lake, artificial waterfalls and rivers, and an artificial hill topped with a view point. Located in the 19th arrondissement, the park is a bit out of the way for most tourists, keeping the park firmly a local Parisian affair.

The park is frequented by the so-called “bobo,” the hipsters of Paris, who are concentrated in the areas not so far away. It helps that there are 3 trendy cafés located in the park, including the hugely popular Rosa Bonheur. You will notice a large population of fashionable twenty- and thirty something strolling around. But luckily, that is just one of the many different populations that frequent this park. There are elderly people, young people, local inhabitants with dogs, refugees, joggers… Thanks to the rich vegetation, the park is also a famous cruising spot for gay Parisians (not sure if there is much cruising going on, given that it can get pretty crowded in the park).

I guess, that is exactly the charm of this urban park: there is something for everyone. A rare spot of democracy and equality in the normally class-conscious Parisian society…