Eiffel Tower & Western Paris - Paris - page 192

BOIS DE BOULOGNE

The 845-hectare Bois de Boulogne ( GOOGLE MAP ; bd Maillot; Porte Maillot) owes its in-
formal layout to Baron Haussmann, who, inspired by London's Hyde Park, planted
400,000 trees here in the 19th century. Along with various gardens and other sights,
the park has 15km of cycle paths and 28km of bridle paths through 125 hectares of
forested land.
Be warned that the area becomes a distinctly adult playground after dark, espe-
cially along the Allée de Longchamp running northeast from the Étang des Réservoirs
(Reservoirs Pond), where all kinds of prostitutes cruise for clients.
The Bois de Boulogne is served by metro lines 1 (Porte Maillot, Les Sablons), 2
(Porte Dauphine), 9 (Michel-Ange-Auteuil) and 10 (Michel-Ange-Auteuil, Porte
d'Auteuil), and the RER C (Avenue Foch, Avenue Henri Martin). Vélib' stations are
found near most of the park entrances, but not within the park itself.
Jardin d'Acclimatation Families adore this green and flowery amusement park on
the northern fringe of wooded Bois de Boulogne. There are swings, roundabouts and
playgrounds for all ages (included in the admission fee), as well as dozens of attrac-
tions such as puppet shows, boat rides, fun-fair rides, a small water park, pony rides,
a little train and so on which you pay extra for.
Le Chalet des Îles ( MAP GOOGLE MAP ; 01 42 88 04 69; Carrefour du Bout des Lacs; 30/60/
90/120 minutes €6/10/15.50/19, plus €50 deposit; noon-5pm Mon-Fri, 10am-6pm Sat & Sun mid-
Feb-Oct; Av Henri Martin) Rent an old-fashioned rowing boat to paddle around Lac In-
férieur, the largest of Bois de Boulogne's lakes - romance and serenity guaranteed.
Parc et Château de Bagatelle ( GOOGLE MAP ; rte de Sèvres à Neuilly, 16e; free Nov-Apr, adult/
child €5/2 Jun-Oct; 9.30am-8pm, shorter hours winter; Porte Maillot) These enclosed gardens,
originally designed as the result of a wager between Marie-Antoinette and the Count
of Artois, frame 18th-century Château de Bagatelle ( GOOGLE MAP ; rue de Sèvres à Neuilly;
adult/child €6/free; tour 3pm Sat & Sun Apr-Oct) , built for the younger brother of Louis XVI.
Magnificent irises bloom in May, roses from June to October, and - perhaps most
majestically of all - water lilies in August.
Pré Catelan (Catelan Meadow; GOOGLE MAP ; rte de Suresnes, 16e; 9.30am-8pm, Jardin
Shakespeare 2-4pm, shorter hours winter; Ranelagh) This garden area within Parc de Bagatelle
squirrels away the wonderful Jardin Shakespeare, where plants, flowers and trees
mentioned in Shakespeare's plays are cultivated. Watch for summertime perform-
ances in the garden's small open-air theatre.
Jardin des Serres d'Auteuil ( GOOGLE MAP ; av de la Porte d'Auteuil, 16é; 8am-8.30pm sum-

Porte d'Auteuil) Located at the southeastern end of the Bois de mer, shorter hours otherwise;