Parks in Paris

We all love Paris in the springtime and there’s no better way to enjoy it than in the parks and public gardens, says Zoë McIntyre

In a city where space is a prized commodity, Paris’s panoply of squares, parks and play areas are popular springtime hangouts for locals and tourists escaping from the bustle of urban life. To the east of the city lies the capital’s largest park, the Bois de Vincennes, which has an eclectic assortment of attractions including a boating lake, Buddhist temple and theatre stages. Keen horticulturalists may prefer the Jardin des Plantes botanical gardens in the 5th arrondissement, which house more than 1,000 species, as well as tropical greenhouses and rose gardens.

In the heart of the capital lies the Jardin des Tuileries, located between the Musée du Louvre and Place de la Concorde. The designs of 17th-century royal gardener André Le Nôtre feature statuary and shrubs laid out in symmetrical patterns. Children will adore the Jardin du Luxembourg in the 6th arrondissement, which is kitted out with pony rides, pedal karts, sandpits and a merry-go-round. For a more unusual picnic spot, head to Rue Monge in the Latin Quarter and seek out the Arènes de Lutèce, the remains of a second-century Roman amphitheatre. Finally, to watch the world go by, head to the hilltop Parc des Buttes-Chaumont in the 19th arrondissement for sweeping views across the city.

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