Mire du Sud, Meridian marker in Montsouris Park, Paris, France.
The Mire du Sud is a four-meter-tall obelisk with a perforated cylindrical top situated in Montsouris Park. The stone structure was built to mark a precise geodetic point for mapping purposes in the city.
The monument was designed in 1806 by architect Antoine Vaudoyer and originally stood in the Paris Observatory garden. It was later moved to Montsouris Park, where it remains today.
The name connects this place to the Paris Observatory and its meridian line, which was central to mapping the city. Such monuments marked important geographical reference points that shaped how Parisians understood their city's layout.
The monument is located within Montsouris Park and can be reached on foot from rue Gazan in the 14th arrondissement. The site is freely accessible during park hours and easy to walk to from nearby streets.
The monument bears an inscription where Napoleon's name was deliberately chiseled away, likely after his downfall. This alteration shows how political upheaval left its mark on the city's structures.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
