Bois de Vincennes Travel Guide

  The South Esplanade going East
by hquittner
 
  • The South Esplanade going East
      The South Esplanade going East
    by hquittner
  • The Nearby Commune of Vincennes Beyond the Park
      The Nearby Commune of Vincennes Beyond...
    by hquittner
  • A Four-Wheeled Bike
      A Four-Wheeled Bike
    by hquittner
  • Another Driver-Rider
      Another Driver-Rider
    by hquittner
  • A Female Biker
      A Female Biker
    by hquittner
 

Explore Bois de Vincennes

Things to Do  

The Bois (Park) Is a Place for Children

The Bois (Park) Is a Place for Children, Bois de Vincennes

 hquittner Says:  Not only is there the chateau to visit but there is the Parc Floral de Paris, a modest sized Zoo and play activities and cycling (and places to eat or drink) enough to make any child happy. That is why we visited and it was a smart choice. This was long ago (1992) and... 

Wander Through the Parc Floral

Wander Through the Parc Floral, Bois de Vincennes

 hquittner Says:  The flower gardens are one of the development features of the Bois. It has been much expanded since we were there but the features remains the same lots of growing flower arrangements, a small lake with water lilies and lotus, fountains and at the edge an extensive... 

Tour the Living Quarters of the Keep-Castle

Tour the Living Quarters of the Keep-Castle, Bois de Vincennes

 hquittner Says:  The ancient castle (keep) is at the center of the most fortified area and has three very similar levels that consist of a central chamber and corner small rooms. There is a central pillar that sustains the Gothic vaulting which anchors at console high on the walls,... 

See the Defensive Elements of the Castle (Keep)

See the Defensive Elements of the Castle (Keep), Bois de Vincennes

 hquittner Says:  The castle is a defensive structure, heavily built with a moat and an angled base to prevent sapping.It is superior height promoting visibility. It is surrounded by a thick and tall outer wall that has covered walkways and corner turrets. Today the entry is by a walkway and... 

Examine the 17C Pavillons and Porticos

Examine the 17C Pavillons and Porticos, Bois de Vincennes

 hquittner Says:  The pavillons and porticos occupying the southern section of the larger enclosure were designed and built by LeVau. Marie de Medici ordered the first one in 1610 (East; the King's) and some years later had it doubled by replicating its form in line. (She hated the Paris'... 

The Chapel Has Fine Stained Glass Windows

The Chapel Has Fine Stained Glass Windows, Bois de Vincennes

 hquittner Says:  There are original mid 16 C stained glass windows preserved in the apse. They depict scenes from the Apocalypse but I am not qualified to read them. I can see trumpeting angels, Prophets, Sufferers etc and a dedicatory King kneeling (in the first pane). You may see more. We... 

See the Outside and Inside of the Chapelle Royale

See the Outside and Inside of the Chapelle Royale, Bois de Vincennes

 hquittner Says:  The Chapel was started in 1379 by Charles V and grew bit by bit until Henri II had it finished by Philippe de l'Orme (1552). It is patterned on Ste.-Chapelle and was awarded a thorn of the crown to improve its sanctity. The style is Flamboyant Gothic with many fine... 

Proceed to the Medieval Chateau

Proceed to the Medieval Chateau, Bois de Vincennes

 hquittner Says:  One enters the chateau complex from the North through the Tour du Village which exhibits the slots from an old drawbridge. This takes you inside the lower outer walls that were added later. Almost at the middle of the area, on the right (West) is the well-built original... 

Art Galleries

Art Galleries, Bois de Vincennes

 cochinjew Says:  in keeping with its past as an intellectual hang out, there are good art galleries and one of the best is Fremaux..picasso miro among others, but what was most surprising was the affordability of these original and prints. 

Transportation  

RER to Vincennes

RER to Vincennes, Bois de Vincennes

 cochinjew Says:  You can either take the Metro Line 1 la defense-vincennes or take RER A which brings you here within about twenty minutes from the centre of Paris 

Sports & Outdoors  

An Attempt at Cycling

An Attempt at Cycling, Bois de Vincennes

 hquittner Says:  Our grandson was only a novice cyclist and we had not ridden for over 2 decades so this four wheeled vehicle best served our purpose in the Bois. (The three of us pedaled when we were not taking pictures). Even some of the park police used bicycles. When we were leaving the... 

Favorites  

The Horse Tracks of Paris (Trotting Races Here)

The Horse Tracks of Paris (Trotting Races Here), Bois de Vincennes

 hquittner Says:  The Hippodrome is in the Southeast part of the Bois. It is devoted to trotting races (standardbreds). The two other race courses in Paris are at the Bois de Boulogne (Longchamp for flatracing and Auteuil for steeplechase --thoroughbreds). It is best to lookup the seasons in... 

The Place

Plan a Bois de Vincennes vacation with reviews, tips and photos posted by real travelers and Bois de Vincennes locals

Experience Bois de Vincennes
  •   12 Tips and Reviews
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The People

 
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 You can either take the Metro Line 1 la defense-vincennes or take RER A which brings you here within about twenty minutes from the centre of Paris 

 

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Top 3 Bois de Vincennes Writers

1

Site of a Great Medieval Castle in a Woods (Park).

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 The suburb Commune (banlieu) of Vincennes is barely out of Paris to the SE, just beyond the Peripherique. It is a dense bedroom community hugging the Bois of the same name which it ceded to Paris in... 

2

Cultural Past and Intellectual Nostalgia

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 The ambience was certainly different eventhough a fast rail journey brings you here within half an hour from the centre of Paris. there is an intellectual air to the place, rightfully so since it was... 

3

the city of Vincennes and his castle

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 I've got some interesting experiences in Bois de Vincennes. I'd love to share with you the 0 tips I've written, the 2 photos uploaded, and 0 travelogues I've created. 

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