Parc André Citroën
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Parc André Citroën is a public park in Paris located in the 15th arrondissement right on the left bank of Seine. It has Citroën’s name attached on it because it is built on the former Citroën automobile plant which was founded by André Citroën and operated from 1915 to 1970. The park stands on approximately fourteen hectares out of twenty-three hectares available from the former plant. The rest of the hectares are used to develop 25,000 residential and office buildings.
History of Parc André Citroën
By the time Citroën plant was closed down in 1970, fourteen hectares of the area was given up to develop a public park due to the French capital’s urbanization policy. The project of making Parc André Citroën then began in 1990s putting landscape designers Gilles Clement and Alain Provost to be in charge for the park’s design and architects Patrick berger, Jean-Paul Viguier, and Jean-François Jodry to be in charge for the park’s construction. Parc André Citroën then was completed and officially opened in 1992.
Parc André Citroën
In Parc André Citroën, visitors are given a chance to rise up in the sky with a moored gas balloon. The balloon has been there since 1999 and operated by the Banque Populaire. It is moored at 32 meters altitude and has the capability to be raised to 150 meters altitude. It has 30 adults capacity. Up above, the passengers can see the view of Champ de Mars, Basilica de Sacre Coeur, Seine River, and Notre Dame.
The Design
The design of the park is centered to a rectangular lawn of 273 by 85 meters. A diagonal walkway cuts the lawn in two. On its eastern side, there are two greenhouse pavilions which have become the park’s centerpieces. Featuring Mediterranean and exotic plants, the greenhouse pavilions are divided by a paved area with dancing fountains which has become a favorite spot for children to play water.
Austrauan Greenhouse is the greenhouse that houses Mediterranean climates while Orangerie Greenhouse is the other greenhouse in Parc André Citroën that operates between October to April only. A row of trimmed Magnolia trees enhanced the beauty of those greenhouses.
A monumental canal borders the lawn, featuring an elevated pool on the south. On the opposite direction, two sets of beautiful gardens are situated at the northern part of Parc André Citroën. Each garden presents distinguished landscape and architectural design.
The Gardens
The most garden, the White Garden, is full of white flowers and white accented plants, accenting the cheerful and fun purpose of the garden. It features sand boxes, ping pong tables, and a fenced-in basketball court. The White Garden is also the only place in Parc André Citroën where dogs are welcomed.
Right across the lawn, there is standing the Black Garden. Made as a total opposite of the White Garden, the Black Garden shelters dark flowers and plants where visitors can sit in tranquility while reading books or just relaxing after a hectic week.
Both of the gardens are separated from the main section of Parc André Citroën. Both are also shaped in perfect square although the White Garden is enclosed by a four-foot wall while the Black Garden is leveled lower that the surrounding plaza.
The Changing Garden is the only garden that provides dynamicity to visitors. As the name suggests, the mood and plants of the garden are changing throughout the year, following the seasons in each year.
Les Jardins Seriels
The garden represents the so-called five senses plus the sixth sense. For example, fragrant flowers are blooming all over the Blue Garden representing the sense of smell and the Red Garden are filled with fruit trees representing the sense of taste. The Green Garden represents the sense of hearing, the Orange Garden represents the sense of touch, the Silver Garden represents the sense of sight, and the Golden Garden represents the sixth sense.
These gardens are also associated with metals, planets, directions, and days of the week symbolism.
Visiting Parc André Citroën
The complete address of Parc André Citroën is at rue Balard, rue Saint-Charles ou quai André Citroën, Paris. The park opens from 8 am to dusk on Monday to Friday and 9 am to dusk on weekends.
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15e Arrondissement, 75015 Paris, France
Phone +33 1 40 71 75 60 None found.
