In the day time, especially the weekend, the atmosphere is great, the children love the “Jardin d’Acclimation” with it’s zoo and fun-fare (I will be writing a post about this at a later date) the cycle track that is next to the Horse racing circuit (LongChamp) and rowing boats that can be found on the large lake (next to Le Chalets des Iles). There is a good healthy family feeling.

Firstly, I wanted to tell you about a memorial site in the heart of the forest, about 500 meters from the restaurant “La Grande Cascade”. I was taken back by this memorial which is dedicated to the 35 Resistance volunteers that were assassinated by the Gestapo on the 6th August 1944, they were aged from 18 -22 years old.

They were there to pick up weapons, that had been hidden there by the British, to help fight the Germans in the streets of Paris, but the meeting had been discovered by the Gestapo and they lay in wait for the young patriots to arrive. On arrival the Germans tortured them and then tied them to a oak tree and shot them. The bullet holes are still visible. The French government has since tied a  red, white and blue ribbon around the tree with the words “We will never forget”.

Google Map Link (Please click here)

Restaurants

On a brighter note, there a few restaurants in the Bois de Boulogne and the ones I like the best are ”La Grande Cascade” and “Le Chatlet des Iles”. La Grande Cascade (The water fall due to the water full right next to the restaurant) is a beautiful restaurant serving some dishes, but very expensive, for example a beef fillet in a red wine sauce is € 72 and the degustation menu is € 185 and another € 77 for the appropriate wines.

Le Grande Cascade (Please click here)

Chalet des Isle

The restaurant that I really like is the “Chalet des Iles” this restaurant is on a island, and the only way to get there is on the restaurant boat that ferries people between the mainland and the restaurant all day, giving this restaurant a huge “wow factor”. The food is good (below you will find the restaurant link where you will find the menu) I really like this place and strongly recommend it’s really quite special. Bon Appétit!.

Le Chalet des Isle (Please click here)