Chateau
de bagatelle :
The
Bois de Boulogne was an ancient hunting forest but was landscaped
in the 1860ís
under the direction of Baron Haussmann. The Bagatelle Gardens,
built around the Chateau
de Bagatelle - where classical concerts are often held -
are a not-to-be-missed part of the Bois particularly in the
late
spring and early summer; tulips in April, irises bloom in
May, August is the month for water lilies, all amazing, but
the
highlight is the June 21st rose exhibition when the rose
garden is breath-taking. There are several
restaurants in the Bois, the most famous being 'Le Pre Catelan',
romantic, good food, expensive. The
Park contains two racecourses, Longshamp and Auteuil, and there
is a wonderful childrenís amusement park, the 'Jardin
d' Acclimatation'. A reminder that at night the Bois is seedy and associated
with kerb-crawling.
|