The Jardin des Plantes is the largest botanical garden in France. It was originally developed by the physician of Louis XIII as a medicinal garden in the 17th century. It was opened to the public in 1650, and developed into a center of botany in the 18th century. Today, botanists continue to be trained at the botany school associated with the garden.
Jardin des Plantes Features
- The National Museum of Natural History which includes the Gallery of Evolution, Entomology, Mineralogy and Paleontology
- An aquarium and a zoo
- The Mexican Hothouse, which is a greenhouse constructed out of iron from the 19th century.
- Several theme gardens, including the Rose Garden and the Winter Garden
- The Labyrinth, a maze constructed out of greenery.
The Garden at the Grande Mosquée
The Grande Mosquée is the largest mosque in Paris and is located near the Jardin des Plantes. The mosque was built in 1926 after World War I and is classic Arabic architecture with a large minaret and exquisite ornamental detailed work. The garden and restaurant are open to the public.
Features:
- Tea garden with fig trees and fountains
- Café that serves Middle Eastern food
- Turkish baths and massage for all faiths (men and women are separated)
Jardin des Tuileries
The Jardin des Tuileries is connected to the Louvre and covers approximately 63 acres. The gardens were first designed in 1664 by Andre Le Notre, the gardener to Louis XIV, with the idea that the vista from the palace would move from one pool to the next. There are several species of trees, some that are over two hundred years old.
Features:
- Flower gardens that are planted twice yearly and include roses, hyacinths and tulips
- The National Gallery of the Jeu de Paume, which features contemporary art, is located inside the garden
- Twenty sculptures by Maillol
- Toy boats available for rent
- Play areas and a trampoline for kids
- Cafés and an ice cream stand in the summer months
Jardin Luxembourg
The Jardin du Luxembourg was built as an addition to the Luxembourg Palace for Marie de Medici in the early 17th century. There is a large pool in the shape of an octagon in the center of the park. The Medici fountain and the Fountain of the Observatory stand as two of the most remarkable pieces of sculpture in the garden.
Features:
- Puppet theatre, merry-go-round and play area for children
- Toy boats available for rent
- Bee hives
Parc Bagatelle
Located inside of the larger park of the Bois de Boulogne, the Parc Bagatelle was first attached to a small chateau that was built in 1775. Waging a bet with Marie Antoinette, the Count of Artois managed to have the chateau built in 63 days. The gardens are well manicured and feature over 9,000 rose bushes and water lilies in the pond.
Features:
- International rose competition held each June
- Tours of the Chateau Bagatelle which has collections related to decorative arts, painting, textiles and sculpture
- Annual festival of Chopin which takes place in June and July
Parc Bercy
The Parc Bercy was formerly a winery, and opened to the public as a park in 1994. Many of the original features of the area were incorporated into the garden design, including old rail lines, in order to preserve its history.
Features:
- Nine theme gardens, including the kitchen garden, the garden of fragrances, the labyrinth and the rose garden
- Two bridges that that connect the garden pass over the rue Joseph Kessel
- Pedagogical workshops on gardening offered in the House of Gardening
Parc Monceau
The Parc Monceau is an English style garden that was established in 1769. The garden has a less structured design than many other formal French gardens with lovely meandering pathways throughout. The 19th century mansions that border the park are also spectacular, and evoke the past.
Features:
- Statues of famous French figures such as Fredéric Chopin and Guy de Maupassant
- Play areas for children
- Replicas of architectural styles from around the world including an Egyptian pyramid, a colonnade, a Dutch windmill and a Chinese fort.
Bois de Boulogne
The Bois de Boulogne is the largest green space in Paris and covers over three square miles. It is more than twice as big as Central Park in New York City. The history of the woods dates back to the eighth century, and it was preserved as a hunting ground by Philip Augustus. The woods were made into a public park by Napoleon III in 1852. While the park is full of delightful things to see and do, it may be wise to avoid it after dark because it has become a popular place for prostitution.
Features:
- Rides on horse drawn carriages
- Several chic restaurants, including a café on the island in the lake
- A waterfall near the lakes that was designed by Haussman
- Boat rides that stop on the islands in the lake
- Two racetracks (the Grand Prix takes place in June of every year)
