The Bois de Vincennes is a remnant of the forest that covered the neighborhood of Paris in antiquity. It is located just east of Paris. With an area of 995 hectares, half wooded, is the largest green space in Paris. It includes four lakes with a network of streams (Lake Gravelle, Lake Minimes, Saint-Mande Lake and Lake Daumesnil). It also includes 2 islands accessible by bridges (the island and the island Reuilly Bercy).

Many facilities occupy the site of the Bois de Vincennes :

Château de Vincennes

The Chateau de Vincennes was erected in the fourteenth century to the seventeenth century. It is the largest French royal castle remaining, and the height of its tower, 52 meters, it is the highest lowland fortress Europe. This fortress has more the appearance of a vast fortified city or a fortified royal residence than a castle.

Parc Floral

Floral Park of Paris is a city park and a botanical garden. The park houses a stage show (Delta Area) in semi-open air, two restaurants, a theater, a puppet show and a large play area for children. Famous for its scenery based on the Japanese style, its rich collections of flowers, horticultural shows and theme gardens, the Parc Floral of Paris is a must for any fan of floral art !

Vincennes Zoological Park

The zoological park is commonly called the Zoo of Vincennes. It depends on the National Museum of Natural History and covers an area of 14.5 hectares.
The zoo is closed for renovations since late 2008. Its reopening is scheduled for 2014.

Hippodrome de Vincennes

Opened on March 29, 1863, the « Hippodrome de Vincennes » is dedicated to horse racing, particularly trot races, harnessed or mounted. The new stands, the new structures and racetracks were opened on January 11, 1983 and make these facilities the most beautiful trot racecourse in the world.

National Institute of Sports and Physical Education (NISPE)

It provides to the French sport elite athletes the conditions to balance all aspects necessary for its development. It includes, on its 34 hectares, all facilities necessary for elite athletes, either in sports, school, university or vocational area.

Access

• Metro line 1 : stations Saint-Mandé, Bérault et Château de Vincennes
• Metro line 8 : stations Porte Dorée, Porte de Charenton, Liberté et Charenton – Écoles.
• RER A : Vincennes station
• Bus lines 46, 112 et 325

“Grand Hotel du Bel Air Paris”, a 2 star hotel in Paris, close to Place de la Nation and Bois de Vincennes.

Père-Lachaise is located on Boulevard de Ménilmontant. Métro station Philippe Auguste on line 2 is next to the main entrance, while the station called Père Lachaise, on lines 2 or 3, is 500 metres away near a side entrance. (Many tourists are reported to prefer the Gambetta station on line 3 as it allows them to enter near the tomb of Oscar Wilde and go downhill to visit the rest of the cemetery.)

Two centuries after its opening, the cemetery of the East has become a tourist attraction as well as the Eiffel Tower or the Arc de Triomphe. Each year, two million visitors who come to pay their last respects to Alfred de Musset, Frederic Chopin and Jim Morrison.

“Grand Hotel du Bel Air Paris”, a 2 star hotel in Paris, close to Place de la Nation and Bois de Vincennes.

The Grand Hotel du Bel Air staff welcomes you with smile and good mood and is glad to be available to advise you or inform you during your stay.