Parc Monceau

Roman columns by a pond in a rich-quarter park

Hours: Open daily from early morning to around dusk; closing time varies by season
Tickets: Free
Address: Main gate at 35 Boulevard de Courcelles, 8th arr., on the border with the 17th

Past the gilded gates a half-ring of Corinthian columns stands around a small pond. It looks like a ruin, but it was built on purpose in the late 1700s as a garden folly. The streets around are lined with Haussmann mansions, and the joggers and stroller-pushers are dressed better than in most parks. Lawn sitting is allowed only in marked zones, so check the signs before you spread a towel. The Nissim de Camondo museum is a five-minute walk away.