The Réserve Naturelle du Bout du Lac is a nature reserve located south of Lake Annecy. It is a marshland where the Ire and Eau Morte rivers flow into the lake. I was there a few years ago, in a rush since it was raining heavily. This time, there was a really nice weather and I could take my time.
Parc Georges Valbon (aka Parc de la Courneuve) is a huge park (417 ha) in Seine-Saint-Denis. After my visit to the Basilica of Saint-Denis, I walked to the park and spent the rest of the day there, until sunset. The weather was really nice and the park looked great in fall colors.
On my last day in Montreal, I went for a walk near Rivière des Prairies, on the northwestern part of the island of Montreal. There, I walked in Parc de la Merci, Parc des Bateliers and Ile Perry, a small island in the river. I then crossed the Rivière des Prairies to Laval.
The Bois-de-Liesse Nature Park is a large park in the northwestern part of the island of Montreal, near the Rivière des Prairies. It has a number of walking trails to choose from (see the map). In winter, the trails are used for cross-country skiing (see the winter map).
The Montreal Botanical Garden (Jardin botanique de Montréal) is a large botanical garden located in Maisonneuve Park near the Olympic Stadium and Biodome. It has a number of thematic parks, including a Japanese garden, Chinese garden, First Nations garden and Alpine garden.
Above, photo of the Botanical Garden and Parc Maisonneuve from the Montreal Tower observatory.
Mount Royal (Mont Royal) is a small mountain in Montreal, immediately west of downtown. It is the site of Mount Royal Park, designed by Frederick Law Olmsted and the city’s largest park.
Above, Mount Royal seen from the observatory of Au Sommet Place Ville-Marie. The Belvédère Kondiaronk, on the left, offers a great view on the city. The Mount Royal Cross can be seen on the right.
Parc de Bercy is a public park located along the right bank of the Seine in the 12th arrondissement of Paris.
The Petite Ceinture (“little belt”) was a railway in Paris that connected the city’s main train stations, forming a loop around Paris. It opened in 1854 and passenger service ended in 1934. Parts of the railway were still in use for freight service until the 2000’s but it has stayed mostly closed to the public until recently, when parks that follow the tracks have opened in the 16th, 15th and 13th arrondissement of Paris. There are also community gardens in the 18th and 12th arrondissement and more sections are set for development in the coming years.
The Parc de Saint-Cloud is a large park near Paris. It is located on the site of the Château de Saint-Cloud, a residence of royal and imperial families since the 16th century and destroyed in the 19th century. It has both a French and English-style garden, as well as a rose garden.
