around Bois de Vincennes 4Parc Zoologique de Paris This zoological park, in the Bois de Vin- cennes, invites visitors to explore five hab- itat zones (Patagonia, Sahel-Sudan, Europe, Amazon-Guyana and Madagascar) and get to know more than 1,000 animals: pumas, zebras, lions, giraffes, white rhinoceri, golden mantellas, Humboldt penguins, a couple of hyacinth macaws … An iconic feature of the Bois park is the famous ‘big rock’ which standsproudly 65-metres-high in the midst of the de Vincennes park and covers a vivarium.Intersection of the av. Daumesnil and the route The surface area of this wood makes it, de la Ceinture du Lac (12th). M Porte Dorée.o along with the Bois de Boulogne, one of 0 811 224 122 (€0.06/min). May to Aug: daily, the capital’s two ’green lungs’. It is located 9.30am-8.30pm (10.30pm on Thurs in June and in the east of Paris, on the edge of the 12th July). End March to end Apr and early Sept to end arrondissement. The École du Breuil and its Oct: Mon to Fri, 9.30am-6pm; Sat, Sun and public arboretum, the Jardin d’Agronomie Trop- and school holidays, 9.30am-7.30pm. End Oct to icale, the Ferme de Paris, the Maison Paris end March: daily, 10am-5pm, except Tues (except Nature, and the bird reserve offer nature public and school holidays). Full rate: €20. lovers the opportunity to discover the site’s www.parczoologiquedeparis.fr considerable biodiversity. There are plenty of leisure and sporting facilities: six paths signposted Promenade & Randonnée (PR®) [walk & hike], departure point for the GR® 14 (hiking trail), sporting and cycling trails, boats for rent on lakes Daumesnil and des Minimes or pony rides for children. And for entertainment, why not go and watch 5Château de Vincennes a trotting race at the racecourse, or go to Situated on the edge of the Bois de Vin- the puppet theatre or to the Cartoucherie — cennes, this site was successively a hunting and its four theatres — or to the Parc Floral, manor in the 12th century, a fortified royal which offers a wide range of things to see residence in the 16th and 17th centuries, and do. The 1,000-hectare wood has sev- and a military stronghold in the days of the eral remarkable historical sites. Well worth Empire. Visitors can admire this jewel of noting is the Château de Vincennes with its medieval architecture, which has been admi- medieval architecture, the Parc Zoologique rably restored. Highlights of the visit include de Paris, which houses 180 species, a pagoda the dungeon, holy chapel, ramparts and the home to the biggest Buddha in Europe or village tower, which offers access to the site. even the Carnot quartier of the Republican 1 av. de Paris. 94300 Vincennes. M Châteauo Guard, where it is not unusual to see riders de Vincennes. 01 48 08 31 20. Daily, except and their mounts. 1 Jan, 1 May and 25 Dec. 21 May to 22 Sept: 10am- 12th. M Porte Dorée.o 6pm (Sainte-Chapelle 10.30am-1pm and 2pm- 5.30pm). 23 Sept to 20 May: 10am-5pm (Sainte- Chapelle 10.30am-1pm and 2pm-4.30pm). 1 Apr to 20 May: weekends and public holidays, 10am-6pm (Sainte-Chapelle 10.30am-1pm and 2pm-5.30pm). Full rate: €9. www.chateau-de-vincennes.fr SOUTH-EAST PARIS 65