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Montsouris Park and the Cité Universitaire

A walk that goes off the beaten track and out of the very touristy sites. Surely one of the most beautiful walks to realize in Paris. Don't miss it !

The walk begins with a visit to the Cité Universitaire de Paris. It is the kind of place that we know without really taking the time to visit it. This is a mistake because it is one of the most charming places in the capital. The buildings all have a different architecture which makes the place unique. The park is also very beautiful. The Cité Universitaire was born during the interwar period with the idea of gathering students from different countries to build a peaceful world. We can then continue the walk by visiting the beautiful park of Montsouris.

Interest: very good (1 user)
Difficulty:
Duration: 3 h.
Practical information

RER Cité Universitaire

To get to the Cité Universitaire, just go to the Cité Universitaire station. The entrance is in front of the RER exit.

The belfry of the Deutsch de la Meurthe Foundation

The Deutsch de la Meurthe Foundation is a residence for students. Émile Deutsch de la Meurthe was an industrialist who made his fortune in oil. He was also a philanthropist who financed the construction of the first buildings of the Cité Universitaire in 1925.
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Bust of André Honnorat

André Honnorat is a French politician (deputy then senator). He is the creator of the Cité Universitaire, he found a patron in the person of Emile Deutsch de la Meurthe to realize his project. He wanted to create a city to welcome students in good conditions.
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The Pierre and Marie Curie Pavilion

The Pierre and Marie Curie pavilion is superb with its architecture reminiscent of English colleges, it was renovated in 2006. The Cité Universitaire has been somewhat abandoned for a few years but a renovation program is underway.
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The Franco-British College

You can hardly go wrong with this building, the red bricks, the bow-windows, we are well in England. The building was built in 1925.
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The House of Japan

Certainly one of the most beautiful buildings of the Cité Universitaire. To reside at the Cité Universitaire you must be at least a Master student or an artist.
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The Swiss Foundation

The Swiss pavilion has a more contemporary architecture although the building dates from the 30s. The realization was entrusted to Le Corbusier who did not want to realize a typically Swiss architecture. The building is classified as a historical monument.
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The House of Brazil

A contemporary architecture for a building that dates from 1959.
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The House of Belgian Students

The Maison des Étudiants Belges features typically Belgian architecture and welcomes students from Belgium each year to pursue their studies in the French capital.
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The plan of the Cité Universitaire

Feel free to walk around and discover all the buildings of the Cité Universitaire.
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The lawns of Montsouris Park

After visiting the Cité Universitaire you can cross the street to the Montsouris park. The park owes its name to the numerous mice that populated the place at the time when there were many grain mills along a river.
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The lake of the Park

The idea of creating this park comes back to Napoleon III, he wished to create a large park in the four corners of Paris (Vincennes, Boulogne, Buttes Chaumont, Montsouris). The Buttes-Chaumont park is perhaps the most beautiful followed closely by the Montsouris park.
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The lake

With its vast lawns, lake, and numerous shaded pathways, the park is a privileged spot for walks, picnics, and moments of outdoor relaxation.
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