As with the rest of the Bois de Vincennes, the Parc Floral de Paris originated as royal hunting grounds, though it was later used for military training under Napoleon. In the 1960s, inspired by an international flower show called the Floralies, the city of Paris decided to install permanent gardens, exhibition spaces, and other attractions on-site.
Today, the Parc Floral is renowned for its many flowerbeds (including the Valley of Flowers, plus smaller gardens dedicated to specific plant varieties) and scenic ponds. Thanks to its event spaces and stages, it’s also a popular location for outdoor festivals, including the annual Paris Jazz Festival and the Classique au Vert (dedicated to classical music).
Parc Floral is one of four sites that make up the Jardin Botanique de Paris, alongside the École du Breuil, Parc de Bagatelle, and Jardin des Serres d'Auteuil.
Park admission costs a small fee between May and October; at other times of the year, entry is free.
The park includes handicapped-accessible parking, bathrooms, and level or ramped entryways.
Though the Parc Floral is located across the ring road (Périphérique) from central Paris, it is still easily accessible by numerous forms of public transportation. Situated in the Bois de Vincennes, the park is close to the Château de Vincennes Métro station (accessible by line 1) and the Vincennes RER station (accessible by line A). It can also be reached by the 46 and 112 bus lines, or by car or Vélib’ bike.
The Parc Floral de Paris is open daily from 9:30am to 5pm in the winter, to 6:30pm in the spring and fall, and to 8pm during the summer. It’s at its best in warm weather, and top festivals like the Paris Jazz Festival and Classique au Vert are held during the summer months.
The Parc Floral de Paris offers a number of surprising attractions. One is a mini-golf course, whose 18 holes are designed to resemble different Paris monuments. It also hosts sculptures by artists like Jean Amado and Alicia Penalba, plus Le Chemin de l’Évolution: a walking trail designed to chronologically trace the evolution of numerous plant species.
