Parks and Green Space in Paris

Bois de Boulogne and Parc Floral Offer Relief From Busy City

Jul 15, 2009

While there exist several parks in Paris' center, these places can become overcrowded and noisy. For more peace and quiet, discover Bois de Boulogne and Parc Floral.

Paris offers a wide array of museums, monuments, restaurants, and nightlife, but often all the noise, crowds, and sightseeing can lead to fatigue. Instead of retreating back to the hotel, visitors should take advantage of Paris' plentiful green space and peaceful parks just outside the city limits. An hour or entire summer afternoon spent strolling among shady lanes and listening to the birds can rejuvenate any tired traveler.

Lakes and Trails in Bois de Boulogne

Peace and quiet may not be synonymous with Paris, particularly during the high tourist season in summer, however tranquility from crowds can be found even in August. The Bois de Boulogne (Boulogne Woods) offers a respite from touring the sights and is very easy to reach from l'Arc de Triomphe.

Inside the Bois, those wanting some exercise will notice trails that loop around two different lakes, Lac Supérieur (0.7 miles/ 1.07 km around) and Lac Inférieur (1.5 miles/ 2.4 km around) Interestingly enough, the latter is much larger in size. In the middle of Lac Inférieur is Châlet des Îles, a restaurant on an island to which one can take a ferry.

The trails around the lakes are a jogger's and cyclist's paradise. Visitors also have the opportunity to rent rowboats located at the northern end of Lac Inférieur. If all this proves to be too much exertion, lying on the stretches of grass with a picnic and book can be a relaxing alternative.

Directions to Bois de Boulogne

Reaching Bois de Boulogne is not difficult, however once inside, it's easy to get turned around on the many trails that weave through the forest. From the city center, visitors can take metro line 1 to Porte Maillot or Les Sablons. Alternatively, Porte Dauphine on metro line 2 stops at the Bois.

Visiting Château de Vincennes and Parc Floral

At the opposite end of metro line 1 is stop Château de Vincennes where, immediately upon surfacing from the underground metro, visitors can see the last remaining medieval royal palace in France, dating back to the 14th century. Visitors can tour the palace and sometimes view summer concerts playing in the courtyard during the evenings.

To escape into a world away from Paris and its crowds, enter the Parc Floral, a botanical garden located at Esplanade St. Louis along Route de la Pyramide. For 5 EUR/ 7 USD, visitors can easily wile away an entire day simply strolling through the quiet paths of the park, lined with exotic plants. Here, nature lovers can discover medicinal plants, plants used for cooking, a library, a butterfly house, various greenhouses, a bonsai display, and three different restaurants.

Close to the entrance, the Espace Delta holds free jazz concerts during the summer, making the Parc Floral an ideal place to relax. Further back in the park are mini-golf and a pool, perfect for family activities.

Located just outside of the Paris city limits, both the Bois de Boulogne and Parc Floral give the visitor a much needed relief from the crowded city, while offering their own natural charm.

The copyright of the article Parks and Green Space in Paris in France Travel is owned by Katherine Kocisky. Permission to republish Parks and Green Space in Paris in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.