Nestled on the western edge of the 16th arrondissement you’ll find Bois de Boulogne – a woodland area that was annexed into Paris by Napolean III in 1852. Today, it forms a public park that is a popular outdoor location for Parisians looking to enjoy a range of activities such as biking, jogging, rowing, horse riding and barbecues / picnics in this vast green space.
Lac Inférieur is the largest of the lakes within the park and is home to the perfect place to enjoy a short hike in Paris. Here you will be greeted by a quintessential French scene: a fairytale lake with enchanting island, boats that can be rented over the summer months, swans and ducks, all while being surrounded by idyllic woodlands. It’s a relaxing reprieve from the hustle and bustle of Paris and its often overcrowded tourist attractions.
Starting from the most northern point of the lake, we head on a three kilometre loop anticlockwise. To reach the northern point of the lake, I walked around 1.5 kilometres from the Porte Dauphine metro stop, on the wide access trails through the woodland. This section of the lake was the widest section of the waterbody and had many locals out walking their dogs or sitting on the benches soaking in the sunshine.
The path stays close to the lake as you follow the circuit, if you’re lucky, you may see a fish or two jumping out of the water. The path then darts away into woodland that houses unique timber walking features, viewpoints of waterfalls and a few very short and easy climbs.
Once you reach the southern point of the lake, you will have your first sighting of the ‘Kiosk of the Emperor’ – a monument to Napoleon III. Continuing on, we see more and more of the lake and the island until we reach the ferry dock which takes you to a lone restaurant on the island. Should you time your walk correctly, you can end your walk with lunch on the island and an exploration of its secrets. However, I was a little too early so ended my walk with a picnic on the large lawns of the Muette.
With the walk over, food in my belly, and a whole day ahead of me I set out to explore other parts of this understated arrondissement. I highly recommend following up this walk with a visit to the Jardin du Ranelagh and the Musée Marmottan Monet.
How to get there
To get to Lac Inférieur / Bois de Boulogne, you can take a taxi and be dropped off at the Lake or walk from the nearest metro station. The closest stations are:
- Metro Line 2 – Porte Dauphine
- Metro Line 9 – Rue de la Pompe, La Muette or Ranelagh
- RER C – Avenue Henri-Martin or Avenue Foch
Warning
This post comes with a warning. DO NOT be tempted to wander down any of the paths within the surrounding woods. You will not enjoy what you find and may receive unwanted attention from individuals who think you’re there for a whole different reason. Likewise, I’d avoid the park at night-time as it is known to be used for solicitation and likely other illegal activities.