The Park of the Cité Internationale Universitaire de Paris spans an impressive 34 hectares, making it the second-largest park in Paris, located in the southern 14ᵗʰ arrondissement near Boulevard Jourdan and the périphérique. Designed in the 1930s by Jean Claude Nicolas Forestier and Léon Azéma, alongside architect Lucien Bechmann, it follows an American-style campus layout with lawns, tree-lined paths, sports facilities and themed gardens.

Open free of charge to the public from 7 a.m. to 9:30 p.m., this park is a favorite among the 12,000 international students, researchers and visitors. At the western entrance lies the multi-sport area—football, basketball, tennis—open to all, although tennis requires reservation for certain external users.

It hosts outstanding biodiversity: 3,045 trees across 235 species, 52 bird species (32 nesting, 22 nationally protected) and even protected bats observed on site. Since 2009, the park has followed an eco-responsible management approach: no pesticides, mulching, mechanical weeding, composting, wild areas, insect hotels, and rain gardens enhancing wetland biodiversity.  Under the Cité 2025 programme, nearly 1,700 trees were planted between 2017 and 2020, supported largely by the City of Paris .

Walking the paths, you encounter a diverse range of international residences: Swiss Pavilion by Le Corbusier, Brazil House by Costa, Japan House, Netherlands House, among others. Altogether, there are 47 houses built between 1925 and 1969 in various architectural styles. Emphasis is placed on cultural mixing, with about 30% of residents from countries other than the house they stay in Paris.

The park is also an open-air cultural venue hosting temporary landscape art exhibitions such as "Jardins du monde en mouvement" or "Regards", in dialogue with the built heritage.

Activities
Stroll among majestic Lebanese cypress, tulip trees or Japanese sophoras.

Relax on lawns — perfect for picnics, reading or quiet reflection.

Play sports: drop-in basketball, football or reserved tennis sessions via the external portal.

Join guided tours themed around ecology, heritage or public art at the heritage centre.

Atmosphere
The ambience is peaceful and cosmopolitan—international students mingle with locals in a green, tranquil setting that encourages reflection, creativity and cross‑cultural dialogue.

Ideal for
Nature lovers, architecture enthusiasts, students, academics, families, joggers, photographers, biodiversity advocates, cultural explorers.

Anecdotes
Sheep have grazed parts of the park as a symbolic ecological experiment and to support grassland maintenance.

Costa‑Gavras, the filmmaker, lived in the Hellenic House and experienced this multicultural and tolerant environment first‑hand.

Practical info
Access: Metro line 4 – Porte d’Orléans, Tram T3a – Cité Universitaire or Montsouris stops, and surrounding cycle lanes.

Accessibility: paths suitable for people with reduced mobility, access to public facilities, signage in French and English.

Services: guided tours for individuals or groups, downloadable brochure available at the heritage center.