Riding horses and other animals in Paris

Le Carrousel De La Tour Eiffel

The modern carousel emerged from early jousting traditions in Europe and the Middle East. Knights would gallop in a circle while tossing balls from one to another.

By the 17th century, instead of throwing balls, riders had to spear small rings that were hanging from overhead poles. As the game began to be played by commoners, carousels sprang up at fairgrounds across Europe.

An early make-believe carousel was set up with wooden horses for children at the Place du Carrousel in Paris.

Early carousels had no platforms; the wooden animals hung from chains and flew out from the centrifugal force of the spinning mechanism. They were often powered by animals walking in a circle or people pulling a rope or cranking.

There are carousels all over Paris. Here are a few good ones:

• Montmartre Carousel
• Jardin du Luxembourg – the oldest carousel in Paris
• Forum Les Halles
• Bois de Vincennes
• Jardin de Ranelagh
• Musée des Arts Forains – where there are 14 carousels
• Jardin des Plantes –  has jungle animals and dinosaurs
• Square des Batignolles