Overview
The Bois de Boulogne is Paris's great western lung — a vast woodland of 846 hectares that served as the royal hunting forest of the Valois and Bourbon dynasties before Napoleon III donated it to the city in 1852. Baron Haussmann and landscape architect Alphand transformed it into a romantic English-style park with two artificial lakes, numerous paths and cycling tracks, and an extraordinary range of activities. Larger than Central Park in New York, it is both a recreational escape for Parisians and a prestigious address for cultural venues. Frank Gehry's spectacular Fondation Louis Vuitton — a building that looks like a ship made of glass sails — opened here in 2014.
🕐 Opening Hours
Open 24 hours; individual venues (Jardin d'Acclimatation, Bagatelle) have separate hours and admission
Free admission unless noted above
🚇 How to Get There
💡 Hire a bike at the Vélib' stations near the park entrances — it's the best way to explore this vast woodland.
Get Directions →What to See
- 1Fondation Louis Vuitton — Frank Gehry's spectacular glass-sailed building, housing a world-class modern art collection
- 2Jardin d'Acclimatation — a family amusement park and garden with rides, a farm, and a puppet theater
- 3Parc de Bagatelle — a romantic English garden famous for its rose garden (over 10,000 roses in 1,200 varieties)
- 4Longchamp Racecourse — one of the world's most prestigious horse racing venues; home to the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe
- 5Roland Garros — the clay courts where the French Open tennis Grand Slam is held every May–June
- 6Two lakes (Lac Inférieur and Lac Supérieur) — for boat hire and peaceful walks
- 7Pré Catelan — a beautiful enclosed garden with a majestic copper beech tree
Photos
Fondation Louis Vuitton building at Bois de Boulogne with its striking glass sails architecture
Nearby Parks
Explore All Paris Parks on Our Interactive Map
Discover 600+ parks, gardens, and squares across Paris. Filter by type, search by name, and plan your perfect green itinerary.
Open the Interactive Map