Bois de Boulogne: day and night

The famous Bois de Boulogne (in French le bois de Boulogne) is a huge forest park that stretches along the western part of Paris. It is believed that this is an analogue of London's Hyde Park, designed in French style. In addition, it belongs to the largest parks in the world and plays a very important role for the city - it sates the metropolis with oxygen.

History of the forest

Today, the Bois de Boulogne is just a big beautiful park. The forest is called by tradition. But once upon a time there was really a huge dense forest in this place - the oak grove of Rouvray. The first mention of it refers to the year 717. It was then that Hilderik II wrote about it in his royal charter.

Boulogne same forest was in 1308 year. Philip V Beautiful was seriously ill, he made a pilgrimage. And it was here, in Boulogne-sur-Mer, he was able to recover from his illness. In honor of this joyous event, he ordered the erection of the Church of the Holy Virgin of Boulogne. Unfortunately, the church did not survive, but its name was passed to the forest.

Then the Hundred Years War engulfed France , it also struck the Bois de Boulogne. Paris, which was in close proximity, was constantly raided and ruined by a huge number of thieves and robbers who found their refuge in the Bois de Boulogne. For this reason, around the forest erected a huge stone wall with a gate and a constant guard.

This continued until the time when King Francis I built his hunting castle in the forest. Then the forest was cleared of robbers and ragamuffins, and also paved through it two big roads. Then Henry of Navarre ordered to plant mulberry trees here , and the forest turned into a plantation for the production of French silk.

Since then, the Bois de Boulogne has not been so wild. In the XVII century dueling was organized in it, and in the 18th century aristocrats strolled. And during the reign of Napoleon III, the dying trees were replaced with pines and acacias, paved roads and hiking trails, and gave the forest the present look. As a result, the forest turned into a well-groomed park and became a favorite holiday destination for the whole of Paris.

The Bois de Boulogne today

Entrance to the park is free and 24-hour for all. However, for access to some of the attractions and attractions have to pay. In addition, these territories of the park work only at certain times. These include the areas for children - the Climatic Garden, Bagatelle Park with beautiful floral compositions, the National Museum of Folk Art and Hippodromes.

The forest is full of all kinds of entertainment: a riding school, bike rental, a bowling alley, boating on the Lower Lake, walking tours and much more.

It is worthy of attention the magnificent Bagatel castle with the rose garden stretching near it. This castle was built very quickly - in just 2 months. June is the best time to visit the Bois de Boulogne, photos of magnificent royal roses of various varieties will undoubtedly become the diamonds of your collection. But in other times of the year you can also see many beautiful plants - tulips, irises, daffodils, water lilies.

Structure of the forest

1. Two racecourses: Longchamp and Auteuil.
2. Climatic park: plants, menagerie, children's playgrounds and a museum.
3. Park and Palace Bagatel with a huge rose garden.
4. Museum of Folk Art.
5. Pre-Catalan Park with an ancient bicentennial beech.
6. Upper and Lower Lakes.

The night life of the Bois de Boulogne

The forest has always been a great place for secret love meetings. There was even a proverb in the people that marriages in the Bois de Boulogne are concluded in the absence of a priest.

Today, illegal unions are also here. With the onset of darkness in the forest flies a lot of "night butterflies" from all over Paris, and also come on the men's cars in search of "something unusual." And the beautiful avenues of the park, where children walk during the day, turn into a real brothel in the open air at night! Thus, inexperienced tourists, who want to walk in the Bois de Boulogne in the evening, are in for a lot of dangerous surprises.