Origin and history
The Parc Montsouris is a Parisian public garden designed under the Second Empire (1852-1870) as part of a project to offer green spaces at the four cardinal points of Paris, alongside the Bois de Boulogne, the Buttes-Chaumont and the Bois de Vincennes. Its location, chosen for its low urbanization, previously housed disused quarries, a nursery and public assistance properties. Confed to the engineer Alphand in 1860, its construction began in 1867 after consolidation of the old quarries, with a partial inauguration in 1869. The park, which was partially opened in 1867, despite the work that continued until 1878, was officially completed in 1878, incorporating an artificial lake fed by Arcueil's aqueduct.
Montsouris was the scene of major historical events, such as the fighting of the Commune in 1871 or secret meetings related to the Dreyfus affair in 1897. It also houses remarkable constructions, including the music kiosk of the International Exhibition of Electricity of 1881, the Palais du Bardo (reproduction of a Tunisian building, destroyed in 1991), and the South of the Meridian of Paris, classified as a historical monument in 1928. Its meteorological observatory, founded in 1872, holds the oldest series of uninterrupted climate surveys in France, recognized by the World Meteorological Organization.
Ranked as a site in 1979, Parc Montsouris is today an iconic green space in Paris, maintained by the City. It is distinguished by its biodiversity (century trees, birds, turtles), its historical remains (Column of Peace Army, remains of the Marine Observatory) and its cultural role, having inspired films, songs and literary works. Its lake, shaded aisles and bridges across the Petite Belte line make it a popular place to walk, accessible by the RER B (University City Station) and the T3a tramway.
The park is crossed by the meridian of Paris, materialized by medallions of the Homage à Arago (1989-1994) and the Mire du Sud, work of Vaudoyer (1806). Former meeting place of artists and intellectuals (Lenin, Sartre, Jouvet), he also preserves traces of his industrial past, such as the Alphand trench, a landscaped integration model for the Belt Line. Its pavilion Montsouris, a historic restaurant created in 1889, and its RER station integrated into the landscape make it a unique example of urban artifact.
His curiosities include a life-size wood crocodile on the lake island, rare trees (Chinese parasol, sequoia, ginkgo biloba), and a varied statuary (works by Etex, Lipsi, Coutan). The park was also used as a setting for scenes of cult films, such as Cleo from 5 to 7 (Agnès Varda, 1962) or More (Barbet Schroeder, 1969). His observatory, having trained naval officers and welcomed explorers, had been home since 1983 to the French Association d'astronomy.
Finally, the Parc Montsouris is a symbol of the Haussmannian transformations of Paris, mixing scientific heritage (century weather station, climatic surveys since 1872), architectural heritage (vesges of the Bureau des longitudes) and collective memory. Its name, evoking the rodents of the Bièvre mills, recalls its anchoring in the industrial and natural history of the capital.
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