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Bois de Vincennes, Paris, France | |
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A massive woodland on the
southeastern edge of Paris,
the Bois de Vincennes offers
miles of trails, parks, a zoo, and more.
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The Bois de Vincennes, like its "cousin" the Bois de Boulogne, was originally a royal hunting preserve. Today, the Bois de Vincennes offers miles of trails for walking, biking, or horse back riding, as well as a Parc Floral, a zoo, an arboretum, a teaching farm, and a Buddhist Temple. Several lakes and fountains add to the visual interest. The Bois de Vincennes also houses a Hippodrome. The Zoological Park of Paris (formerly the Vincennes Zoo) reopened in 2014 after nine years of work. Now five distinct biozones allow visitors to see the animals in their natural habitats. A three kilometer (Less than 2 miles) trail takes you through Patagonia, Sahel-Sudan, Europe, Madagascar, and the Amazon-Guyana. Over 1000 animals from 180 species are included in the park. The Bois de Vincennes is huge—over 2400 acres, making it about 3 times larger than New York's Central Park. There are few signs on the many interconnected trails, and plenty of room to explore and get away from the city. It's also old—started in the 12th century by Louis VII. Royal foresight benefits Parisians and tourists today! The Bois de Vincennes is easily accessible by métro. To get to the Bois from the métro, you will pass through the impressive Château de Vincennes, with its restored keep, or dungeon. You can also reach the Bois de Vincennes by walking the length of the Promenade Plantée. Be careful though—that's already a lot of walking, and you'll want to save some energy for walking in the Bois. Once in the Bois de Vincennes, you can choose which direction to head. To the left for the Parc Floral or the Lac des Minimes, to the right to the zoo, Lac Daumesnil,or Buddhist Center, or more-or-less straight to explore the woods and stables or reach the farm. Métro: Château de Vincennes
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Above: One of many paths in the Bois de Vincennes.
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