Bois de Boulogne

Bois de Boulogne is a large public park on the western edge of Paris, within the Île-de-France region, originally a royal hunting ground transformed into an urban park in the mid-19th century under Napoleon III and Baron Haussmann. It serves as a major recreational green space for the city, with extensive paths, lakes and cultural facilities.

Features include artificial lakes and waterways, formal gardens, wooded areas and leisure facilities such as the Jardin d’Acclimatation, the Hippodrome de Longchamp racecourse on the park’s edge, and boating and picnic areas around the Pré-Catelan and Lac Inférieur. The park supports cycling, rowing, equestrian activity and large public events.

Bois de Boulogne functions as a municipal park administered by the City of Paris and provides an important urban ecology corridor with varied habitats and planted avenues. It is bounded by the 16th and 17th arrondissements and sits along Paris’s western boulevard ring.

• Size: The park covers approximately 846 hectares and is one of Paris's largest green spaces, offering lakes, woodlands, lawns and formal gardens.

What to See #

• Jardin d'Acclimatation: Jardin d'Acclimatation is a family-oriented park with rides, gardens and small animal exhibits in the northwest corner of the Bois de Boulogne, founded in the 19th century and redeveloped in recent decades.
• Longchamp Racecourse: Hippodrome de Longchamp is a major racecourse on the park's edge hosting flat racing events including the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe nearby.
• Pré-Catelan and lakes: Pré-Catelan and Lac Inférieur are landscaped areas with lawns, paths and boating lakes popular for strolling and picnics; the Pré-Catelan includes cultural venues and historic structures.