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Bois de Boulogne, Paris, France | |
| For a break from city life and sightseeing, join Parisians for a walk, jog, or bike ride in the huge, lovely Bois de Boulogne. | ||
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A former hunting preserve for the kings of France, the Bois de Boulogne covers 2100 acres/846 ha on the western outskirts of Paris, on the edge of the 16th arrondissement. The Bois de Boulogne has miles of trails that are populated by walkers, runners, bikers, and people on horseback. The extensive woods make it easy to forget that you're on the edge of a major city. It's a great place to enjoy a sunny afternoon in nature. There are few signposts, so it's definitely a place where you want to have time to wander and relax. The Bois de Boulogne also includes two lakes: the larger lac inférieur offers boat rentals and the wonderful Chalet des Îles restaurant on an island in the lake. More... The smaller lac supérieur borders the Auteuil racetrack. The equally famous Longchamp racecourse is toward the western edge of the park. In addition to its miles of trails and forest, the Bois de Boulogne is also home to the Jardin d'Acclimatation, Paris's children's amusement park, with its rides, carousels, games, and other fun entertainment. The Parc de Bagatelle, in the northwest part of the Bois de Boulogne, is the site of a château built in 1775 by the Count of Artois, brother-in-law of Marie-Antoinette (and the future Charles X) and beautiful gardens. The Bois de Boulogne is extremely popular with Parisians, and on weekends the traffic on nearby roads can be very intense. But once in the park it's easy to lose yourself on the many interconnected paths. The Bois de Boulogne on the western side of Paris is balanced by the Bois de Vincennes on the east. Both offer huge expanses of woodland, miles of trails, and a variety of recreational activities. You may want to consider a visit to the Musée Marmottan Monet on the same day as you visit the Bois de Boulogne. Combined with lunch or a drink at the Chalet des Îles, it makes a fine excursion. Métro: Porte Maillot or Sablons
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Above: Boaters enjoy a fall day in the Bois de Boulogne, Paris.
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