Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
WORTH A DETOUR
BOIS DE VINCENNES
Paris is flanked by two large woodlands, the Bois de Boulogne in the west and the Bois
de Vincennes in the east. Originally royal hunting grounds, the Bois de Vincennes was
annexed by the army following the Revolution and then donated to the city in 1860 by
Napoleon III.
A fabulous place to escape the endless stretches of Parisian concrete, the Bois de
Vincennes also contains a handful of notable sights, and is close to the
Cité Nationale
de l'Histoire de l'Immigration
and
Aquarium Tropical
.
Metro lines 1 (St-Mandé,
Château de Vincennes) and 8 (Porte Dorée, Porte de Charenton) will get you to the
eastern edges of the park. Pick up picnic supplies on rue de Midi, Vincennes' main
shopping street.
child €8.50/free; 10am-6pm mid-May-mid-Sep, to 5pm mid-Sep-mid-May; Château de Vincennes)
Originally a meagre 12th-century hunting lodge, the castle here was expanded several
times throughout the centuries until it reached its present size under Louis XIV. Not-
able features include the beautiful 52m-high keep (1370) and the royal chapel (1552),
both of which are open to visits. Note that the chapel is only open between 11am and
noon, and 2.30pm and 4pm.
Daumesnil & rte de la Ceinture du Lac, 12e; adult/child €22/16.50; 10am-6pm Mon-Fri, 9.30am-7.30pm
Sat & Sun mid-Mar-mid-Oct, 10am-5pm daily mid-Oct-mid-Mar; Porte Dorée)
Reopened in 2014
after years of renovations, Paris' largest, now state-of-the-art zoo focuses on the con-
servation of species and habitats, with camouflaged vantage points (no peering
through fences). Its biozones include Patagonia, with sea lions to cougars; the savan-
nah of Sahel-Sudan, with lions, white rhinos and giraffes; forested Europe, with
wolves, lynxes and wolverines; a Guiana rainforest with jaguars, monkeys and anacon-
das; and Madagascar, home to lemurs. Other highlights include Australian marsupials
and manatees (sea cows).
Vincennes or rte de la Pyramide; adult/child €5.50/2.75; 9.30am-8pm Apr-Sep, shorter hours rest of year;
Château de Vincennes)
This magnificent botanical park is one of the highlights of the
Bois de Vincennes. Natural landscaping and a magnificent collection of plants will
keep amateur gardeners happy, while Paris' largest play area (giant climbing webs
