Buttes-Chaumont — temple de la Sibylle
A temple perched on its rock above the lake.
The story of the place
Before it was a park, the hill carried the voirie de Montfaucon, Paris's vast open dump and knacker's yard, then gypsum quarries: soil so barren it was called the bald mount, chauve-mont, hence Chaumont. Napoleon III and Haussmann decided to give the working-class east a garden; the engineer Alphand dug a lake and threw a footbridge across it. The park opened on 1 April 1867, at the same time as the Universal Exhibition; Gabriel Davioud later crowned the thirty-metre rock with the Temple de la Sibylle.
Getting there
Nearest metro station: Botzaris (7bis). The spot is in the 19th arrondissement of Paris. Open walking directions.
The light
Excellent golden hour (4/5): sunrise and sunset light is warm and very usable here.
Where to go after the shoot
A few addresses within a short walk, to make the moment last.
Neighbourhood café on the corner of rue Pradier, run by the same family for several generations: the morning coffee on your way out of the park.
Restaurant with a terrace by the lake, inside the park, open Tuesday to Sunday: lunch without ever leaving the scenery of the shoot.
Guinguette set inside the park since 2008, tapas and terrace until midnight, Wednesday to Sunday: the follow-up to a sunset shoot.
Addresses checked in 07/2026. Places change — check opening hours before you head out.
Photo spots nearby
Frequently asked questions
How do I get to Buttes-Chaumont — temple de la Sibylle?
Nearest metro station: Botzaris (7bis). The spot is in the 19th arrondissement of Paris.
When is the best time to photograph Buttes-Chaumont — temple de la Sibylle?
Excellent golden hour (4/5): sunrise and sunset light is warm and very usable here. View of the Sacré-Cœur from the temple at sunset.
Can I book a photographer for a shoot at Buttes-Chaumont — temple de la Sibylle?
Yes. SnapSpot Paris connects you with Paris-based photographers who know the location. A single session can cover several nearby spots — the photographer adapts the route to the light of the day. Parc de Belleville, Street art Oberkampf, Canal Saint-Martin, Père-Lachaise.