Bois de Boulogne Park

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.

Bois de Boulogne sits on the western edge of Paris about 5-7 km west of Île de la Cité. By public transit take Paris Métro Line 1 (Les Sablons or Porte Maillot stations) or Line 2 (Porte Dauphine) and walk a few minutes from the station to the nearest park entrances; several Paris bus routes also serve the park perimeter. By car follow signs to the Bois de Boulogne from the Boulevard Périphérique (use the Porte Maillot or Porte d’Auteuil exits); from central Paris it’s only a short drive (around 15-25 minutes, depending on traffic).

• Enter the park from Porte Dauphine (metro ligne 2) or from the Jardin d'Acclimatation side to access quieter paths and avoid the busiest stretches near Fondation Louis Vuitton and Longchamp racecourse.
• Visit early weekday mornings or late afternoons to enjoy the lakes and wooded avenues with far fewer visitors-weekends concentrate large family crowds around the amusement and cultural attractions.
• Many visitors miss the Serres d'Auteuil (historic greenhouses) and the Pré-Catelan garden; head to the southern and central parts of the park to find these calmer, botanical highlights away from the main promenades.
• If your interest is culture rather than crowds, plan separate visits for Fondation Louis Vuitton or Longchamp race days-those attractions draw heavy spikes, so schedule wooded-park walks on different days.