The Bois de Boulogne, sprawling across 845 hectares on Paris’s western edge, is a verdant escape steeped in royal history and 19th-century urban vision. Once a hunting ground for French monarchs, it was transformed by Napoleon III into a public park inspired by London’s Hyde Park. Designed by engineer Adolphe Alphand, it features man-made lakes, waterfalls, and winding paths shaded by centuries-old trees. Highlights include the Jardin d’Acclimatation amusement park, the rose-filled Parc de Bagatelle, and the Fondation Louis Vuitton, a contemporary art museum housed in Frank Gehry’s striking glass structure. The park also hosts the French Open at Roland-Garros and prestigious horse races at Longchamp and Auteuil. With boating, cycling, and gourmet dining at La Grande Cascade and Le Pré Catelan, the Bois de Boulogne offers a rich blend of leisure, nature, and culture. It remains one of Paris’s most beloved green spaces, where history and modernity coexist beneath the canopy.
Paris FranceBois de Boulogne is a vast public park located on the western edge of Paris in the 16th arrondissement, bordering the affluent suburbs of Boulogne-Billancourt and Neuilly-sur-Seine. Covering 845 hectares, it is the second-largest park in Paris and features a diverse landscape of lakes, woodlands, botanical gardens, and winding trails. The park is renowned for its English-style gardens, the Château de Bagatelle, and the Jardin d'Acclimatation amusement park, as well as the Jardin des Serres d’Auteuil, a complex of historic greenhouses. Bois de Boulogne is also home to the Fondation Louis Vuitton, a striking contemporary art museum, and the Stade Roland Garros, famous for hosting the French Open tennis tournament. Visitors can enjoy boating, cycling, horseback riding, and picnicking, with attractions like the Longchamp and Auteuil racecourses, the Domaine de Longchamp, and several lakes and waterfalls. The park is easily accessible by metro, with nearby stations including Porte Dauphine (Line 2), Porte d’Auteuil (Line 10), and Les Sablons (Line 1).