Bois de Boulogne, Park in the 16th arrondissement, Paris, France
The Bois de Boulogne is a large park on the western edge of Paris, in the 16th arrondissement. It covers a mix of woodland, open lawns, two connected lakes, formal gardens, and wide paths for walking and cycling.
The land was originally a royal forest called Rouvray, used by French kings for hunting over many centuries. In the 19th century, Napoleon III had it redesigned as a public park modeled on London's parks, adding the lakes and road network that still shape it today.
The Bois de Boulogne is a regular part of daily life for many Parisians: people jog the paths in the morning, families spread out on the lawns on weekends, and rowers drift slowly across the lakes. In the northwestern corner, the Parc de Bagatelle holds a small 18th-century château surrounded by a rose garden that draws many visitors each year, especially in spring.
The park is very large, so it helps to decide in advance which part you want to explore, such as the lakes, the Jardin d'Acclimatation, or the Fondation Louis Vuitton. Several metro stations sit along its edges, making it easy to enter from different sides depending on your starting point.
The Château de Bagatelle in the Parc de Bagatelle was reportedly built in just two months as the result of a bet made in the 18th century. This story is part of what makes the spot worth seeking out within such a large park.
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