Parc des Buttes Chaumont

The Parc des Buttes Chaumont is a public park in Paris, France. The name of the Park is derived from two words, "Buttes" (hills), and "Chaumont" (a contraction of "chauve mont" - the bald mountain). The park is one of the largest in Paris and is a favourite of Parisians who flock to the grassy slopes to relax, picnic and stroll through the 5 kilometers of paths found in the park.

Buttes des Chaumont park is in the 19th arrondissement in the north-eastern part of Paris, on the site of a former quarry mined for gypsum and limestone used for the construction of buildings in Paris and the United States. The park was commissioned by the French Emperor, Napoleon III after the land occupied by the former quarry was annexed to Paris.

The park was developed by Baron Haussmann and Engineer Jean-Charles Alphand. After 4 years of construction, it was opened as part of the festivities of the Universal Exhibition in 1867.

Features of the Parc des Buttes Chaumont, one of the largest of Paris' urban parks, are numerous. The park includes several cliffs, bridges, a grotto which encloses a waterfall, a lake, and several English and Chinese gardens.

The most prominent feature is the Belvedere of Sybil which sits atop the rocky peak at the center of the park. The Belvedere, added to the park in 1869, is a Corinthian style monument, modeled after the ancient Roman Temple of Sybil in Tivoli, Italy. A suspension bridge, now closed for renovation, leading to the peak is also found in the park. Access to the Belvedere is across the stone bridge found on the south side of the park.

The park boasts many varieties of indigenous and exotic trees (many of which are Asian species). In particular several Cedars of Lebanon planted in 1880, Himalayan Cedar, Ginko Biloba, Byzantine Hazelnut, Siberian Elm, European Holly, Bamboo-leaf Prickly-ash, among others.

The main entrance to the Park is at Place Armand-Carrel where the Town Hall of the 19th arrondissement is located. There are 5 other large entrance gates to the park: Porte Bolivar , Porte de la Villete, Porte Secrétan, Porte de Crimée, Porte Fessart, as well as through 7 other smaller gates surrounding the perimeter.

The park currently hosts a restaurant, several small cafes, a reception hall, two theatres, and several attractions for children. Notably, In 1892 Theatre Guignol Anatole was established in the park becoming a popular attraction for many generations. In addition, as part of a city-wide wireless internet access scheme, the park hosts four Wi-Fi zones.

Culture

In September, the park hosts Paris' annual Silhouette Short Film Festival. As the park is normally closed at dusk, the Film Festival allows visitors a rare opportunity to visit the park at night. The Silhouette Festival features 7 days of French and International short films followed by an awards ceremony.

Trivia

In one episode of the series "Friends", a vintage poster of the Buttes Chaumont is seen on a wall of an apartment.

Bibliography

*Cite book |last=Downie |first=David |authorlink=David Downie |title= |publisher=Transatlantic Press |location=Fort Bragg |year=2005 |isbn=0976925109 |chapter=Montsouris and Buttes-Chaumont: the art of the faux |pages=pp. 34–41
*Cite book |last=Fierro |first=Alfred |title= Life and History of the 19th Arrondissement |publisher=Editions Hervas |location=Paris |year=1999 |isbn=2903118299 |chapter=Buttes-Chaumont |pages=pp. 80–100

External links

* [http://www.paris.fr/EN/Visiting/gardens/parc_buttes_chaumont.asp City of Paris official website: Parc des Buttes Chaumont] en icon
* [http://paris1900.lartnouveau.com/paris19/les_buttes_chaumont.htm Les Parc des Buttes Chaumont] — current photographs and of the years 1900 en icon
* [http://www.visualtravelguide.com/medium/France-Paris-Parc-des-Butes-Chaumont.html High Resolution Travel Photographs of Parc des Buttes Chaumont] — current high resolution photographs en icon
* [http://www.petits-bouffons.com/anatole/index.php Theatre Guignol Anatole official site] fr icon