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Further Distractions |
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Paris,
Further Distractions This garden, part formal, part jardin à l’anglaise, were created for Marie de Médicis, Henry IV’s widow, along with the Palais de Luxembourg (which now houses the French Senate). Now it is a favoured spot for a Sunday stroll, game of tennis, chess or boules, pony ride or yacht trip on the lake. Boulevard St‐Michel, rue Guynemer, rue d’Assas, rue Auguste‐Comte or rue de Vaugirard, 6th Tel: (01) 4234 2362. Transport: Métro Odéon; RER Luxembourg. Opening hours: Daily 0700‐2145 (Apr‐Sep); daily 0800‐dusk (Oct‐Mar). Admission: Free; admission charge for children’s play area. Bois de Vincennes Napoléon III transformed the royal forest of Valois into a park complete with lake and cascades in 1860, with the help of Haussmann’s landscape artist Alphand. The Bois de Vincennes is now Paris’ largest park, ideal for cycling and boating and is also the home of the city’s main zoo. The park is situated next to the impressive Château de Vincennes, where Henry V died in 1422. Porte de Vincennes or Porte Dorée, 12th Transport: Métro Porte‐Dorée or Château de Vincennes. Opening hours: Daily dawn‐dusk. Admission: Free. La Mosquée de Paris Built between 1922 and 1926 close to the Jardin des Plantes, this Hispano‐Moorish mosque oversees France’s Muslim community. There is free access and guided tours to the sunken garden and patios. The prayer room, however, remains closed to the non‐Muslim public. There is also an authentic hammam (Turkish bath) with masseurs at hand, as well as a wonderful mosaic courtyard complete with fig trees and a fountain – the perfect setting for sweet mint tea served in tiny gilded glasses and honeyed baklava. In the adjoining restaurant, couscous and other Arabic dishes are served. 1 place du Puits‐de‐l’Ermite (access via 39 rue Géoffroy‐St‐Hillaire), 5th Tel: (01) 4535 9733 or 4331 1814 (tearoom) or 4331 1814 (Turkish baths). Fax: (01) 4535 1623. Transport: Métro Place Monge or Censier‐Daubenton. Opening hours: Women: Mon, Wed, Thurs and Sat 1000‐2100, Fri 1400‐2100. Men: Tues 1400‐2100, Sun 1000‐2100. Tours: Sat‐Thurs 0930‐1200 and 1400‐1800 (1900 in summer); closed Muslim holidays. Admission: &Euro;3 (guided visit); concessions available. Free (tearoom); &Euro;15 (Turkish baths, massages extra). |