9 Beautiful Carousels in Paris

The French love their carousels, and it’s hard to find a French town of any size that doesn’t have at least one. After all, what’s better than watching happy kids ride wooden horses, bobbing along gleefully?  

The History of the Carousel 

The name comes from the French carroussel, meaning “little battle.” The original carroussels were royal tournaments where horsemen demonstrated their skills, one of which was galloping at high speed and capturing a ring with a lance. 

All this galloping tended to wear out horses, so a practice mechanism was created. Wooden horses were suspended from a ring on top of a pole, then spun around at high speeds. Horsemen would “ride” these to practice capturing rings with their lances. 

These mechanisms proved popular, not only for training but also for spectators. Over time, spinning platforms with wooden horses were introduced, and these became a popular ride in traveling fairs.  

From there they moved to amusement parks, and finally to cities and towns throughout France and the world. The carousels’ horses have made room for new neighbors, not only other animals but also cars, submarines, and even spaceships. 

Paris is home to over 20 carousels (also called manèges in French) that are still active. Let’s look at nine of the best. 

Carousel de Trocadero

In the Jardin de Trocadero, this Belle Epoque-style carousel is illustrated with Parisian scenes. A double-decker, it has horses, carriages, even hot-air balloons. And behind it is a clear view of the Eiffel Tower, making it one of the most instagrammable carrousels in Paris. 

Jardin de Luxembourg Carousel

This is the oldest carousel in the city, designed by Charles Garnier himself, architect of the Palais Garnier opera house. It is relatively simple, but it is one of the few where riders can still try to capture rings as they circle around. 

Carousel de Saint-Pierre

In Montmarte’s Place Saint-Pierre, at the foot of the Sacré-Cœur basilica, sits this double-decker beauty. Also known as the Sacré-Cœur carousel, it has a Venetian theme, with horses, carriages, and even a spinning teacup! This is an Instagram favorite, where you can take a picture with the basilica behind it. 

Jardin des Tuileries Carousel

Another beautiful Belle Epoque carousel, this one has illustrated panels depicting Paris sights like the Eiffel Tower and Notre Dame. Unlike many carousels, it doesn’t play circus music while it turns, but rather French nursery rhymes (see if you can understand some of the words!) 

Hôtel de Ville

In front of the Hôtel de Ville, Paris’s city hall, is a double-decker, Belle Epoque era carousel. Unfortunately, you may not see it when you visit, as it is only brought out on special occasions, like holidays and special events.  

Manège de Dodo

In the Jardin des Plantes is perhaps France’s most unusual carousel. Dedicated to extinct and endangered species, kids can hop aboard animals like the Tasmanian wolf, the triceratops, and yes, the dodo. 

Two Jules Verne-inspired Carousels

Jules Verne, the master of early science fiction, has inspired not one but two carousels in Paris. 

The first is — no surprise — the Jules Verne Carousel in Parc de Villette. This double-decker has all kinds of steampunk creations to ride, from trains and planes to hot air balloons and space rockets. 

The second is the Manège de Parc Monceau, which features a beautiful blue replica of the Nautilus submarine, featured in Verne’s Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea. 

Musée des Arts Forain

This museum, dedicated to fairground arts and rides, is a must-see for dedicated fans of carousels. It has 14 different ones, including a carousel powered by velocipes. These are old-fashioned bicycles that riders pedal to make the carousel turn!