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Parks and Gardens in Paris
Pretty and verdant, the parks and gardens in Paris are a wonderful place to get away for a while from the busy city life. You can have a walk in Le Bois de Boulogne, the city’s most popular and largest park, designed as the London’s Hyde Park. Renowned as 'Le Bois', the park used to be a hunting ground and royal forest in the past, nowadays home to bicyclists, strollers, joggers and lovers. If you are in the city centre, you can unwind in the Jardin des Champs- Elysées, where to enjoy the beautiful flowers, majestic trees and the tranquility itself. The Jardin des Tuileries is one of the most popular open spaces in Paris, where you can have a picnic. The Parc Georges Brassens and many other parks combine impressive architectural elements, aesthetic plants and lush gardens to attract people for a rest in the nature.
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Coulée Verte
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Website: http://www.promenade-plantee.org
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The Coulée Verte, or Green Stream, is a green 4.5-kilometre-long promenade situated in the southeastern part of Paris along the River Seine. The promenade was actually built over the old railway that connected the Bastille to the Varenne-Saint-Maur, until 1859. When the railway was abandoned, it became overgrown with vegetation. In 1988, a succession of gardens were created to form a park along the old railway line, with the designers preserving much of the original surroundings. The promenade passes through ancient renovated viaducts, green trees and old facades of houses. This is a favourite place for Parisians to walk, jogg and bike ride. Various types of sports are also played In this part of the city, such as football, rugby and volleyball.
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Le Jardin Atlantique
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Phone: +33 1 40 71 76 70
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Opening Hours: Monday-Sunday 08 -21
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Le Jardin Atlantique is a 3.5-hectare garden founded in 1994 and situated close to the Montparnasse railway station. Visitors to the garden will find peaceful surroundings and at the same time can engage in sports activities, including tennis and Ping Pong, as well as a children's playground. Le Jardin Atlantique is accessible from all parts of Paris by the subway. Inspired by the geometry of both French and English garden styles, thematic playgrounds and decorations add significantly to the garden's overall look. Another attraction at Le Jardin Atlantique is the fountain representing the island of the Hesperides, Greek nymphs who tend a peaceful garden in the western corner of the world. A spectacular view is seen from the top of the Montparnasse tower, over the green Jardin Atlantique.
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Le Jardin d'Acclimatation
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Phone: +33 1 40 67 90 82
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Website: http://www.jardindacclimatation.fr
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Opening Hours: Monday-Sunday 10 -19
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Le Jardin d'Acclimatation is a theme park for children situated in the heart of the Bois de Boulogne forest. This park was inaugurated in 1860 during the reign of Napoleon III. Later, with colonisation gaining force, Parisians entertained traditions and lifestyles of Bushmen, Nubians and Zulus to the zoo. Today, apart from various playgrounds, children may visit the mini zoo, which is a remnant of the garden's initial role. Le Jardin d'Acclimatation is opened throughout the year and a small train, operating every ten minutes, takes a tour through the garden. It is also possible at Le Jardin d'Acclimatation to learn about flora and fauna, and gardening, cooking, calligraphy and jugglery workshops are offered as well.
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Le jardin des Tuileries
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Phone: + 33 1 40 20 90 43
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Opening Hours: Monday-Sunday 07 -21
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Le Jardin des Tuileries is one of the most popular public gardens in Paris, situated in the centre of the French capital between Place de la Concorde and the Louvre. Within walking distance from all the major city attractions but still slightly removed from the hustle and bustle of the centre, it's a favourite stop for tourists on sightseeing tours. The garden is relatively small but richly decorated, with sculptures which are of great interest to many visitors for both their historical and artistic importance. The impressive collection features sculptures crafted by such prominent names as Rodin, Coysevox, Giacometti, Jean Dubuffet and many others. The oldest works date back to the 18th Century and are located in the Place de la Concorde section of the park.
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Parc Monceau
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Phone: +33 1 40 71 75 60
e-mail: aapm@parcmonceau.org
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Website: http://www.parcmonceau.org
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Opening Hours: Monday-Sunday 07 -22
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Parc Monceau is a huge public park situated in the 8th district, between the Arc de Triomphe and St-Lazare Railway Station. Its central location makes it a tourists' and locals' favourite spot for long afternoon strolls away from the noise and chaos of the busy city centre. Park Monceau was designed in 1769 by French painter and architect Louis Carrogis Carmontell. The founder of the park was the Duke of Orleans. The Duke was a close friend of King George IV and a great lover of the English lifestyle. His intention was to create a pays d'illusions (‘country of illusions’), an English-style city garden in the middle of the French capital.
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Montsouris Parc
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Phone: +33 1 45 88 28 60
e-mail: regine@viau.org
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Website: http://www.viau.org/montsouris/
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Opening Hours: Monday-Sunday 08 -18
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The Parc Montsouris is a 15-hectare park situated in the 15th district, in the southern part of Paris. The quarries of Montrouge once occupied the park's property, however, on the initiative of Napoleon III in 1875, the park was created in its place. The park was designed by the renowned French landscape architect Jean-Charles Alphand. It is adorned with statues, and features many children's playgrounds and a puppet theatre. There is also modern weather station on the park premises. A picturesque lake is situated in the middle of the park, surrounded by exotic trees, such as American sequoias and gingko bilobas. Open-air music is also provided in front of the music kiosk. Parc Montsouris is easily accessible by underground or bus.
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Parc du Champ-de-Mars
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Parc du Champ-de-Mars, or the Field of Mars, is one of the most famous parks in the capital city of France. It boasts the name of the ancient Campus Maritus in Rome. The esplanade of the park is 780 metres long, and stretches from the Eiffel Tower in the northwest to the 18th-century building of Military Academy (École Militaire) in the southeast. As a result, it's visible in most pictures taken from the top of the Eiffel Tower.
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Bois de Vincennes
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Phone: +33 1 40 71 74 00
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Website: http://www.boisdevincennes.com
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The Bois de Vincennes is a huge park situated in the eastern part of Paris and named after the neighbouring town of Vincennes. This area used to be a popular hunting spot, and a military training zone was established on this vast unpopulated land after the French Revolution. However, the only wild animals existing on the land today are in the neighbouring zoo. Bois de Vincennes is also a popular place for those playing various sports, which may include walking, jogging and even bike riding in the velodrome. Four lakes are situated in the park, as well as a castle (residence for several kings of France), the Museum of African and Oceanic Art, and the Cartoucherie Theatre.
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