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The Bois de Boulogne is a park located along the western edge of the 16ème arrondissement of Paris. The Bois de Boulogne has an area of 846 hectares. The park is a remnant of the ancient oak named forest of Rouvray, where Dagoberto (king of the francs 629-639) used to hunt bears, deers and other animals.
One of the most beautiful parts of the bois is the Château de Bagatelle. The Comte d'Artois, purchased the property. Marie-Antoinette wagered against the Comte, that the new château could not be completed within three months. The Comte hired 900 workers to work day and night in order to achieve the goal. The Comte won his bet, completing the house in sixty-four days. After the revolution it was restores and an orangerie and the Trianón were added. Also a big rosebush was added where every year international competitions occurred.
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The heart of the Bois is occupied by the Jardin d'Acclimatation, a kind of amusement dedicated to children. Opened on 1854 and directed by Saint-Hilaire, it was first called Paris zoo and it was planned as a place to discover animal life. The park went through devastations during the war when it was occupied by livestock to feed soldiers and population. Nowadays, the park offers different attractions such as the Train, the Enchanted River, The Dragon, The Village des Maneges (boat rides past water wheels), Bumper Cars, the Enchanted House and many more.
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The Musée National des Arts et Traditions Populaires, created in 1937 in Trocadero, has its seat in 1972 in the Bois de Boulogne. It was created to be responsible of everything related to French traditions and lifestyle. It has been closed since 2005 and its collections are being transferred to the Europe and Mediterranean civilization museum, located in Marsella that will be opened by the year 2008 hopefully.
In the bois there are several services available such as bike or boat renting, restaurants, fishing (with previous authorization), riding and ice skating. At night time, the area welcomes a different scene, and becomes one of Paris' most prominent red-light districts. |
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