Parc insolite guide - activities

Le Jardin Yili, the unusual Chinese garden hidden away in the Yvelines

Jardin Yili is the only privately-owned traditional Chinese garden in France. Head for Saint-Rémy-l'Honoré in the Yvelines, about 33 km from Paris, for a change of scenery. Discover this 10,000 m² green space, imbued with spirituality and tranquility, where you can discover the art of Chinese gardens and immerse yourself in a feng shui setting inspired by age-old traditions.

Unusual in the Yvelines: the superb waterfall grotto at Parc du Dr Fauvel in Villennes-sur-Seine

Villennes-sur-Seine, a charming commune in the Yvelines department, is home to a little-known treasure: the waterfalls of the Parc Fauvel grotto. Located some 36 kilometers west of Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris, this small town near Poissy on the left bank of the Seine boasts a park that combines history and nature. The park, an example of English romanticism, features an unusual grotto and waterfalls.

Rueil-Malmaison's superb Parc des Impressionnistes, inspired by Monet

The Parc des Impressionnistes in Rueil-Malmaison, located on the banks of the Seine opposite the Ile des Impressionnistes, is a sublime 1.2-hectare park that honors the color palettes of the Impressionists. Water, plants and flowers in abundance recall Claude Monet's garden at Giverny.

Parc de l'Amitié, the superb Japanese park in Hauts-de-Seine

Looking for an original park and garden just outside Paris? Head for Rueil-Malmaison in the 92 region to discover the Parc de l'Amitié, an astonishing park full of treasures, including a Japanese garden with its emblematic red bridge and flourishing vegetation.

The magnificent Japanese garden at Square Médéric in Colombes

Square Méréric, a pretty neighborhood park in Colombes, boasts a 3,800 m2 Japanese garden featuring bamboos, maples, pruned trees, azaleas and pagodas. It's the perfect place to get away from it all.

The Japanese garden at Château de Courances: a bucolic and exotic stroll in the Paris region

The Japanese garden at Château de Courances is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful Japanese gardens around Paris, and particularly so in France. Located in the fabulous Courances estate in Essonne, this Anglo-Japanese garden delights us with its exotic landscapes.

The Albert Kahn Museum's superb Japanese garden and other gardens that take us on a journey

The Musée Albert Kahn, which has just reopened its doors, unveils sublime gardens that are a must-see. Conceived as a scenic garden, this 4-hectare space features a magnificent Japanese garden and village, an English garden, a French garden and forests and meadows. A complete change of scenery.

Georges Brassens Park, a bubble of countryside in the 15th arrondissement

It's not - by far - the best-known of our major Parisian parks, not very popular compared to giants like Parc de la Villette or Parc des Buttes Chaumont. And yet, the Parc Georges Brassens is particularly exotic, bucolic and poetic, and is always worth a visit.

La Coulée Verte de Paris, the unusual and hidden walk from Bastille to Vincennes

Paris's Coulée Verte René-Dumont, formerly known as the Promenade Plantée, is a beautiful, little-known walk for Parisians, taking us on a verdant journey from the Bastille to the Bois de Vincennes over the Viaduc des Arts. It's an unusual and shady way to discover Paris, away from the hustle and bustle of the city.

The Parc Floral de Paris Vincennes, its sublime gardens and events

The Parc Floral is the largest park in Paris, located in the Bois de Vincennes, a stone's throw from the Château. In addition to its superb vegetation, it's a giant park with outdoor games for children, mini-golf, Rosalie rides, exhibitions and sales, shows, a butterfly hothouse and many other treasures.

The Jardin d'Agronomie Tropicale, an unusual hidden garden of exotic treasures

Do you know the Jardin d'Agronomie Tropicale René-Dumont? This exotic place steeped in history, hidden away in the Bois de Vincennes? We'll take you on a tour of this unusual garden with its many exotic treasures.

The gardens of the Archives Nationales, a hidden gem in Paris

In the heart of the Marais district, there's an enchanted garden that Parisians often pass by in ignorance. And yet, once you discover the gardens of the Archives Nationales and their 8,000 m2 of greenery, you wonder how you could have missed it!

A stroll on the Île Verte, a romantic promenade classified as a remarkable garden in Chatenay-Malabry (92)

To get to Chatenay-Malabry, just take the RER B towards Robinson, and get off at the terminus. It's here, between the towns of Sceaux and Chatenay, that you'll discover exceptionally rich green spaces, full of charm and remarkable century-old trees.

Thoiry Zoo's new lodges in Terres d'Afrique: an immersion among elephants

After the unusual dens, Thoiry Zoo is now launching a new zone called "Terre d'Afrique", featuring an educational and immersive area with a new Elephant House and 5 cosy lodges where you can sleep in total immersion among the elephants, right in the heart of the African plain. And reservations are now open!

The Jardin des Plantes' hidden Alpine garden, a nugget worth discovering

The Jardin des Plantes conceals a magnificent alpine garden. Located between the Grandes Serres and the Menagerie, this garden, which has no entrance doors, is accessible via a hidden underground passage. Here you can discover the rock gardens and wild mountain plants. It's a haven of peace to be (re)discovered all year round.

The floating cottages on the La Galiotte pond in Yvelines, a real postcard landscape

For a complete change of scenery in the heart of the Île-de-France region, head for the Parc du Peuple de l'Herbe in Carrières-sous-Poissy, in the Yvelines department. With its 113 hectares of wilderness and picturesque ponds, including the étang de La Galiotte dotted with floating chalets, this oasis just a stone's throw from Poissy station offers an authentic experience within the reach of your Navigo pass!

Parc de la Poudrerie, a listed green nugget in Sevran (93)

Fifteen kilometers from the Bassin de la Villette, along the Canal de l'Ourcq, lies a lovely 137-hectare forest park in the Seine-Saint-Denis municipalities of Livry-Gargan, Villepinte, Sevran and Vaujours. Combining remnants of the area's industrial past with immense tree-lined avenues, it's one of the green spaces not to be missed for a bike ride, family outing or jogging session... in the 93.

Discovering Sonja's Gardens: A four-season Eden in Perray-en-Yvelines

Les Jardins de Sonja, a veritable botanical Eden in Le Perray-en-Yvelines, has been delighting garden lovers since 1980. Discover these sublime hidden gardens with their multiple settings, imagined by landscape designer Sonja Gauron.

Parc de la Folie Saint-James in Neuilly-sur-Seine: the unusual park, a jewel of French landscape art

We introduce you to the Parc de la Folie Saint-James in Neuilly-sur-Seine, a French landscaped masterpiece from the XVIIIᵉ century that's well worth a stroll. This picturesque park offers you a plunge into history and the beauty of nature.

The Butterfly Garden, an unusual stroll in a Parc Floral greenhouse

The Butterfly Garden returns to the Parc Floral de Paris. Join us from May 15 to October 15, 2023 for a magical stroll through an enchanted greenhouse, where you'll be surrounded by butterflies in shimmering colors!