Bois de Boulogne

Overview

The Bois de Boulogne is an enormously vast, lush woodland sprawling across the entire western edge of Paris. More than twice the size of New York's Central Park, it serves as the ultimate "green lung" for Parisians looking to escape the dense urban grid.

Highlights

• Lac Inférieur: The massive lower lake where you can rent wooden rowboats pointing towards a romantic, heavily wooded central island.
• Parc de Bagatelle: A breathtaking, walled-off botanical garden inside the woods, globally famous for its magnificent rose garden and free-roaming peacocks.
• La Grande Cascade: A highly impressive, massive artificial waterfall tumbling over imported rocks into a lush grotto.

History

Originally an ancient royal oak forest and the incredibly dangerous hunting ground of French kings. In 1852, Emperor Napoleon III ceded the land to the city and commissioned Baron Haussmann to completely transform it into a massive, highly curated public park heavily inspired by London's Hyde Park.

Visitor Tips

• Orientation: It is incredibly massive; do not just "wander in" without a plan. Biking is by far the best way to explore the endless, winding trails.
• Warning: While extremely safe and incredibly popular with families during the day, large sections of the park serve as an overt, notorious red-light district after darkness falls. Do not explore the deep woods at night.
• Duration: 2–3 hours. Best enjoyed on a rented bicycle.