For Free - Paris - page 160

Parks & Activities
Ready to play with the Parisians? Take a break from the city concrete and check
out the islands of green instead, where you'll be able to thwack a tennis ball, stroll
in style, admire art or bust out some wine and cheese. And in true French form, you
won't even need to break a sweat.
Parks
Jardin du Luxembourg Paris' most iconic swath of green, where you can stroll among the
statues, play tennis, jog in style and entertain the kids.
Jardin des Tuileries Leafy Seine-side oasis, perfect for picnics, summer carnival rides, jog-
ging and impossibly magnificent vistas.
Bois de Vincennes The erstwhile royal hunting grounds east of Paris. Today it's home to a
zoo, the kid-packed Parc Floral and pick-up football matches.
Bois de Boulogne Haussmann's western oasis. Cycle, row, stroll the gardens, hit the amuse-
ment park or catch a steeplechase.
Jardin des Plantes Natural history museum, botanic gardens and sprinkler-dodging picnics.
Parc des Buttes-Chaumont Another Haussmann creation, this quirky local spot has a faux
Greek temple, abandoned railway line, dance hall and tai chi vibes.
Spectator Sports
Paris hosts a great variety of sporting events throughout the year, from the French Open
( www.rolandgarros.com ) and BNP Parisbas Masters ( www.atpworldtour.com ) to local foot-
ball matches. There are a handful of stadiums in and around the city; for upcoming events,
follow the What's On link at http://en.parisinfo.com . Better yet, if you can read French,
sports daily L'Équipe ( www.lequipe.fr ) will provide more depth. Local teams include Paris
Saint-Germain (football; www.psg.fr ) and the pink-clad Stade Français Paris (rugby;
www.stade.fr ) . Catch France's national team, Les Bleus, at the Stade de France.
The city's three horsetracks can make for a thrilling afternoon. The Hippodrome d'Auteuil
and the Hippodrome de Longchamp ( www.france-galop.com ) are in the Bois de Boulogne;
the Hippodrome de Paris-Vincennes ( www.letrot.com ) is in the Bois de Vincennes.