Amusement parks in Paris: Jardin d'Acclimatation

The Jardin d'Acclimatation is a fascinating 20-hectare amusement park located in the northern part of the Bois de Boulogne. Created in 1860, and freshly renovated in 2018, the Jardin d’Acclimatation has the particularity of combining the animated areas dedicated to rides and roller coasters, the playgrounds for families and children and quiet walks. You can do many interesting things here, like go for a train ride, on a boat trip on the "Enchanted River" in the middle of incredible and unspoiled nature or even see the marionettes show. Many restaurants are at your disposal for your lunch break, and many thematic workshops for the adults and children are also organized. These and many other things make** the Jardin d'Acclimatation**, a perfect place for the entire family. Children love it, and adults just adore it!

A little bit of history

The French Emperor Napoléon III and his wife Empress Eugénie opened the Jardin d’Acclimatation in 1860. The royal couple got an inspiration to create a leisure and amusement park in Paris after visiting the Hyde Park in London. At first, this park was known as the Jardin Zoologique d'Acclimatation, as the idea was to “acclimatize” fauna and flora from around the world. But from 1877 to 1912, the Jardin d'Acclimatation experienced the Dark Ages. The park was converted into some kind of human zoo, where many mostly African tribes were exhibited. Finally, in 1931, the new Jardin d'Acclimatation saw the light of day. Today, this park is above all a leisure and amusement park, perfect for all generations.

Main attractions

The most iconic attraction of the Jardin d’Acclimatation is the Little Train. Inaugurated in 1878, this is the first passenger’s narrow-gauge train in France. The Enchanted River (La Rivière Enchantée) is a magical scenic boat course, inaugurated in 1926. In this amusement park, you will also find “The Village of the rides”, an area that includes some 30 attractions, like the Speed rockets. But in **the Jardin d'Acclimatisation **there is also the Saint-Hilaire farm. This unique educational farm in Paris houses rabbits, guinea pigs, Rove goats, Ushant sheep, donkeys, a henhouse and an apiary. And since October 2014, the Jardin d’Acclimatation hosts also the Louis Vuitton Foundation, a cultural center that promotes contemporary art.

Practical information

Photo © Jardin d'Acclimatation

The Jardin d'Acclimatation is open from Monday to Friday, from 11 am to 6 pm and on Saturday, Sunday and school holidays from 10 am to 6 pm. The entrance costs 5 euros, and the attraction ticket is 2,90 euros. The all-inclusive pass is 29 euros. The access to the Louis Vuitton Foundation through the garden is free. If you want to take a break and enjoy succulent pancakes, then the perfect place is the restaurant “La Crêperie Eugénie”. This place is just next to the educational farm.