The Bois de Vincennes, Paris’s largest park, was originally fenced off as royal hunting grounds. Today, scattered among its trees are peaceful lakes and even a château completed in 1370 under the reign of Charles V. In past years, the château has served as a city fortress and prison. Parc Floral -the flower garden - is a delight throughout the year, thanks to its hundreds of species of rainbow-hued flowers. Also located in the park is a zoo with 1200 bird and mammal inhabitants.