Lac des Minimes, lake in bois de Vincennes, Paris, France
Lac des Minimes is an artificial lake in the 12th arrondissement of Paris, situated within a car-free green space at the edge of Bois de Vincennes. The water body is shallow and encircled by a walking path, with three small islands of which only Île de la Porte-Jaune is open to the public.
The lake was created after the former Convent of the Minimes was demolished between 1857 and 1859. Its construction was part of the transformation of Bois de Vincennes into a public park during the second half of the 19th century under the direction of Adolphe Alphand.
The lake takes its name from the former Convent of the Minimes that once occupied this site. Today it serves as a gathering place for local residents and visitors who come to observe waterfowl and find a moment of quiet within the city.
The lake is easy to reach on foot or by bicycle and features a continuous walking path around the water. There are no major facilities such as cafes or public restrooms, so plan to bring water and provisions beforehand.
Île de la Porte-Jaune, the only publicly accessible island, houses a large wooden building from the time of Napoleon III that now serves for events such as weddings. The other two islands remain intentionally closed to preserve them as habitat for wildlife.
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