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On the other side of Paris, the Bois de Vincennes (M° Château-de-Vincennes or Porte Dorée, 12th) is dominated by the imposing Château de Vincennes. The château is under long-term renovation, but it is surrounded by forest trails, and the grounds feature a lake where couples can row around in wooden boats. For €3(€1.50 students ages seven to 26) you can explore the Parc Floral de Paris (M° Château-de-Vincennes;01 73 04 75 75, www.parcfloraldeparis.com), open daily, 9:30am to 6pm in winter, until 8pm in summer. This is a floral garden with lawns for picnics; there is also a butterfly garden pavilion, puppet theater, playground, and a small children’s amusement park (open daily, March through August, at 2pm, on weekends only in September; ride tickets €1 each). Free jazz and classical concerts take place on summer and fall weekends in the park’s open-air concert pavilion. Children who love animals can visit the Ferme de Paris, formerly the Georges-Ville Farm, with dairy cows, veggie gardens, goats, pigs, chickens and rabbits. Located next to the hippodrome. Hours vary by season: from April through September it’s open weekends and public holidays, 1:30pm to 6:30pm; in July and August, hours are Tuesday through Friday, 1:30 to 6pm; in October and March, 1:30 to 5:30pm; and from November to February, 1:30 to 5pm, closed public holidays; entry €2, €1 for ages seven to 26, ☎ 01 43 28 47 63). The Parc Zoologique de Paris (M° Port Dorée, open daily, 9am to 6pm in summer, 9am to 5pm in winter; entry €8, €5 for kids from age four to 16, ☎ 01 44 75 20 10) is the largest zoo in Paris, with requisite bears, giraffes, monkeys, hippos and seals. The Grand Rocher, a 215-foot man-made mountain, offers panoramic views of the Bois de Vincennes. Feeding time takes place in the afternoon. The welcome center (acceuil) has a large souvenir and bookshop with multilingual guides to Paris sights; it’s open weekdays, 10am to noon and 1 to 5pm;01 48 08 31 20.
MAGIC BAR Right around the corner from the Place des Vosges, Le Double-Fond (1 Place du Marché St-Catherine, 4th, M° St-Paul, ☎ 01 42 71 40 20) presents regular magic shows in their atmospheric stone vaulted cellar (tickets €18 adults, €13.50 children), or you can simply order a drink on the terrace bar (open late afternoon through midnight) and the server will perform a trick at your table. |
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