Parks and green spaces in Paris suburbs

The Montmorency Forest covers 2000 hectares (4940 acres) north of Paris and offers a network of 15.5 miles (25 kilometers) of marked trails for hiking, horseback riding, and cycling. This forest is among the major green spaces in the Parisian suburbs and provides varied recreational activities in a natural setting. The paths cross different landscapes with beech, oak, and chestnut trees and are suitable for walks and sports activities.

Parc de Sceaux extends over 180 hectares (445 acres) and includes a château, water features, and landscaped garden areas. The French gardens were designed by André Le Nôtre and display the characteristic geometric patterns and sight lines of the 17th century. The extensive grounds offer maintained lawns, tree-lined avenues, and walking paths through the various garden sections. The site lies south of Paris and serves as a recreational area for visitors from the capital region.

The Jardin d'Acclimatation in the Bois de Boulogne combines an amusement park with a botanical garden. The park includes rides, playgrounds, an educational farm, and a botanical garden with 1,200 plant species. As part of the green spaces in the Paris suburbs, this site offers families the opportunity to combine various recreational activities with the discovery of plant life.

Domaine National de Saint-Cloud covers 460 hectares (1,140 acres) on a hillside west of Paris and provides access to French gardens, fountains, and wooded trails with views over the Seine valley. The park was developed in the 17th century under the direction of André Le Nôtre and includes the remains of the former Château de Saint-Cloud, which was destroyed during the Franco-Prussian War. The domaine features the Grande Cascade, a monumental water feature dating from 1660, as well as several terraces and tree-lined avenues that extend across the grounds. The green spaces accommodate walking, cycling, and picnicking, while the elevated location offers views of Paris, the Eiffel Tower, and the Seine.

The Parc des Buttes-Chaumont covers 25 hectares (62 acres) in the 19th arrondissement of Paris and was built between 1864 and 1867 on the site of a former quarry. The park features a 30-meter (98-foot) tall rock formation surrounded by an artificial lake. The Temple de la Sibylle, modeled after the Temple of Vesta in Tivoli, sits atop the rock. Visitors can explore different levels of the park via bridges and winding paths, while grottoes and waterfalls add to the landscape.

The Parc de la Planchette is a municipal park in the Parisian suburbs featuring playgrounds for children, sports fields, and lawns for recreational activities. The park contains numerous trees of various species and provides local residents with an accessible space for relaxation and sports. The green areas allow for picnicking and resting, while the sports facilities can be used for various physical activities.

The Promenade Plantée extends for 2.9 miles (4.7 kilometers) along a former railway line approximately 33 feet (10 meters) above street level. This elevated park opened in 1993 and runs from Place de la Bastille to Porte de Saint-Mandé in the 12th arrondissement. The space features planted walkways, rose arches, bamboo gardens, and various tree species while passing through residential areas and providing views of the surrounding neighborhoods.

The Parc de l'Île Saint-Germain covers 62 acres (25 hectares) on a Seine island between Issy-les-Moulineaux and Boulogne-Billancourt. This park features an educational farm where children can observe domestic animals, along with outdoor contemporary art installations. The grounds include meadows, wooded areas, and themed gardens, while riverside paths offer walks with views of the Seine.

The Parc de La Courneuve spans 415 hectares (1025 acres) in the northern suburbs of Paris and features lakes, wooded areas and meadows for walking and sports activities. The grounds include varied landscapes that provide recreation throughout the year near the capital. The park serves as a venue for cultural events and offers facilities for leisure and sports.

The Parc des Chanteraines covers 82 hectares (200 acres) in the Paris suburbs with several ponds for fishing, a small zoo housing domestic and exotic species, themed gardens, and an educational farm. The park offers walking paths through wooded areas and open meadows, along with facilities for recreational activities and family relaxation near the capital.

The Jardins d'Éole is a 10 acre (4.2 hectare) park in the Paris suburbs that integrates wind turbines for irrigation systems and rainwater collection basins for maintenance. This public green space provides recreation and leisure opportunities near the capital with a technical approach to sustainable park management.

The Bois de Vincennes covers 995 hectares (2,460 acres) in eastern Paris and includes several facilities for recreation and education. The park contains the Zoo de Vincennes, the Arboretum de l'École du Breuil with over 2,000 tree species, the Jardin Tropical, and the Château de Vincennes, a medieval fortress. Three lakes offer opportunities for boating, while extensive woodlands, meadows, and landscaped gardens create varied landscapes. The park features an extensive network of paths for walking, cycling, and horseback riding, along with sports facilities and playgrounds.

Lac d'Enghien covers a water surface of 106 acres (43 hectares) and was artificially created. Visitors can practice water sports or visit the casino on the shore.

The Bois des Roches offers marked trails that wind through stands of oak and beech, providing opportunities to observe squirrels, woodpeckers, and various bird species in this environment on the northwestern edge of the Paris suburbs. This roughly 75 acre (30 hectare) woodland is suitable for walks and nature outings in a quiet setting.

The Domaine de Madame Élisabeth covers seven hectares (17 acres) in Versailles and consists of a French formal garden, an English landscape park, and a vegetable garden dating from the 18th century. The estate once belonged to Madame Élisabeth, sister of King Louis XVI, and preserves its historic garden design. The French garden displays geometric beds and trimmed hedges, while the English park offers a more natural layout with winding paths. The historic vegetable garden serves for seasonal plant production. This green space near Paris allows for walks through different landscape styles and illustrates French garden design from the late 18th century.

This arboretum in the Vallée-aux-Loups spans 13 hectares (32 acres) and contains more than 500 tree species from various continents, including conifers, magnolias, and rare specimens. The property includes the historic residence of French writer François-René de Chateaubriand, where he lived between 1807 and 1817 and composed several of his works. The collection has been expanded over the decades and now offers a botanical walk through different vegetation zones.

The Île de loisirs de Cergy-Pontoise covers 250 hectares (620 acres) on the outskirts of the capital and combines recreational opportunities with sports activities. This leisure area features a lake for water sports such as sailing and windsurfing, along with sports facilities for soccer, volleyball, and tennis. The site offers trails for walking and cycling through wooded areas and open spaces. Picnic areas and lawns complement the amenities for visitors seeking a day outside Paris.

Square René-Le Gall is a garden in southern Paris featuring large trees, play areas for children, and paved paths. This public square provides opportunities for walks and relaxation near the capital. The garden adds to the green spaces available around Paris with its shaded areas and recreational facilities.

Château de Malmaison is an 18th-century palace that served as the residence of Napoleon and Joséphine Bonaparte from 1799 to 1814. The gardens extend over several acres (hectares) and feature a collection of roses and exotic plants, reflecting Joséphine's particular interest in botany. The estate is located in Rueil-Malmaison, west of Paris, and provides insight into the Napoleonic era through its historical interiors and landscaped grounds.