The Bois de Vincennes was formerly a hunting terrain exclusive from the French kings, and restricted by the reign of Philippe Auguste. Several royalty enclaves were built next to it (including the Vinceness Castle) before the bois was ready to be open to public under the reign of Luis XV. According to the legend this was the bois chosen by Saint Louis to remake justice under an oak.
During the French Revolution the bois became a zone used for military development. Many agricultural parcels were evacuated and some military buildings were constructed. The actual appearance was achieved under the mandate of Napoleon III as the counterpoint of the Bois de Boulogne in the other side of Paris. It has the typical English gardens look: several trees were planted again and the river beds were dogged again.
Most summer Olympic Games of 1900 were celebrated in the bois which was finally incorporated to Paris in 1929. The castle returned to be part of the Vincennes territory again in 1934.