Jardin Atlantique, Park in the 15th arrondissement, Paris, France
The Jardin Atlantique is a public park in the 15th arrondissement of Paris, built on top of the Gare Montparnasse train station. It is divided into geometrically shaped sections to the north and west and more densely planted areas to the east, with a central fountain, a sun deck, and a playground for children.
The Jardin Atlantique opened in 1994, after the Gare Montparnasse was rebuilt in the 1960s and its tracks were covered over. The slab created above the station gave planners the opportunity to add a green space to a dense part of the city.
The Jardin Atlantique is designed around the theme of the Atlantic coast, with wave patterns carved into the ground and plants native to Atlantic regions. At the north end, a museum dedicated to the French Resistance and the liberation of Paris during World War II sits within the park and is open to visitors.
The park sits above street level and is not visible from the surrounding streets, so finding the entrance can take a little effort; the easiest access is through the Gare Montparnasse itself or by using the elevators on rue du Commandant Mouchotte and boulevard Vaugirard. Checking a map before arriving helps to locate the entrances quickly.
At the center of the park stands the Ile des Hespérides, a small island-shaped structure that doubles as a weather station, carrying a thermometer, a rain gauge, a wind vane, and an anemometer. The entire park rests on twelve concrete arches built directly above the active platforms of the Gare Montparnasse.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
