around 1 av. de Paris. 94300 Vincennes. M Châteauo de Vincennes. 01 48 08 31 20. Daily, except BOIS DE VINCENNES 1 Jan, 1 May and 25 Dec. 21 May to 22 Sept: 10am- 6pm (Sainte-Chapelle 10.30am-1pm and 2pm- 5.30pm). 23 Sept to 20 May: 10am-5pm (Sainte- 4PARC ZOOLOGIQUE DE PARIS 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: €9.50. www.chateau-de-vincennes.fr 6 PARC FLORAL DE PARIS – JARDIN BOTANIQUE DE PARIS A short walk from the Château de Vincennes, This zoological park, in the Bois de Vin- the gently-rolling green spaces of the Parc cennes, invites visitors to explore five habi- Floralare a haven for strollers and botany tat zones (Patagonia, Sahel-Sudan, Europe, lovers! Children are sure to enjoy the play Amazon-Guyana and Madagascar) and get areas. The park is also the setting for numer- to know more than 2,000 animals: pumas, ous events every summer. zebras, lions, giraffes, white rhinoceros, Esplanade du château de Vincennes (12th). golden mantellas, Humboldt penguins, a cou- M Château de Vincennes.o 39 75. ple of hyacinth macaws … An emblematic Opens every day at 9.30am. Closing time feature of the park is the famous ‘big rock’ varies according to season. Apr to Sept/ which stands proudly 65-metres-high in the full rate: €2.50. Oct to March: free. midst of the park and covers a vivarium. www.paris.fr/jardinbotaniquedeparis Intersection of the av. Daumesnil and the route de la Ceinture du Lac (12th). M Porteo 7 ARBORETUM DE PARIS – Dorée. 0 811 224 122 (€0.06/min). May to JARDIN BOTANIQUE DE PARIS Aug: daily, 9.30am-8.30pm. End March to end Apr and early Sept to end Oct: Mon to Fri, 9.30am- 6pm; Sat, Sun and public and school holidays, 9.30am-7.30pm. End Oct to end March: daily, 10am-5pm, except Tues (except public and school holidays). Full rate: €20. www.parczoologiquedeparis.fr 5CHÂTEAU DE VINCENNES The Paris arboretum has some 1,200 trees, occupying different preserved natural envi- ronments — including a wetland area, a reed bed and chalky meadowland. Discover and get to know 650 species of labelled hardwood and coniferous trees including some remarkable ones: the Korean fir, the Situated on the edge of the Bois de Vin- metasequoia, the Chinese tulip tree, weep- cennes, this site was successively a hunting ing pear, as well as the ‘handkerchief tree’! manor in the 12th century, a fortified royal 50 route de la Pyramide, Bois de Vincennes residence in the 16th and 17th centuries, (12th). RER A Joinville-le-Pont. and a military stronghold in the days of the Daily. Opening times vary according to Empire. Visitors can admire this jewel of season. Free. medieval architecture, which has been admi- www.paris.fr/jardinbotaniquedeparis rably restored. Highlights of the visit include the dungeon, holy chapel, ramparts and the Village Tower, which offers access to the site. 70| SOUTH-EAST PARIS