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Departure from the Château de Vincennes metro station (Cours des Maréchaux exit).
(S/E) Walk along the castle towards the Parc Floral. Continue to the end of the road at the bus stops and pedestrian crossing.
(1) Keep the return route on your right and turn left. Take Avenue des Minimes, between the Parc Floral and a rainwater management channel. At the end, turn left and then right after about 30 metres. You will find yourself on a straight path, which you follow. After about 300 metres, you will arrive at Avenue du Tremblay.
(2) Cross it, then continue straight ahead. Further on, cross the Route Circulaire, keep to the left and you will come out near the Lac des Minimes and reach the shore.
(3) Turn right and head towards the kiosk, going around the lake on the right. Follow the lake for about 300 m and you may see one or two herons perched on a tree in the water (at the island opposite you). On your right, in front of the two pavilions belonging to the city of Paris, you will find a wooden dragon sculpture.
Continue along the lake shore until you reach the junction with a path coming from the right, just before a fountain and three magnificent trees.
(4) Look carefully to your right. A small passage between the trees will lead you after about ten metres (before the junction with Route de la Cascade) to a magnificent totem pole (well hidden by the trees). It is a sculpture by Stéphane Beau.
Continue around the lake and, after less than 500 metres, you will see two waterfalls on your left.
(5) Shortly afterwards, join the Route du Bosquet coming from the right and you will arrive at a small stream.
(6) Take the path on the right that runs alongside the stream. From one bank to the other, you will pass a pond overgrown with reeds on your left. (You may see frogs and hear them croaking (usually from April to June during the breeding season). You will arrive at the circular road.
(7) Turn right, then immediately left (Route de la Ménagerie). Continue until you reach Avenue de la Belle Gabrielle.
(8) Turn right onto this road. After about 200 m, you will arrive at the entrance to the Jardin d'Agronomie Tropicale - René Dumont.
(9) Turn right to visit the garden. (See the "Nearby" section).
Leave the garden and turn right, continuing along Avenue de la Belle Gabrielle until you reach the intersection with Route des Merisiers.
(10) Turn right into the woods and continue straight ahead until you reach Avenue du Tremblay.
(11) Turn right and follow the INSEP (Institut National du Sport, de l'Expertise et de la Performance). (See Practical Information).
At the end of the fence, turn left onto the path that runs alongside the INSEP field. On your right, you will see the Cartoucherie, which houses several theatres (Théâtre du Soleil, Théâtre de l'Aquarium, Théâtre de la Tempête, Théâtre de l'Épée de Bois).
You will arrive at the Bois de Vincennes pyramid. (See Practical Information).
(12) Turn left, go around the roundabout and take the Route du Bourbon (cycle path) on your left. Turn right onto the Route Saint Hubert. Cross the cycle path. A little over 250 m further on, go into the woods on your left. You will see a hill. This is the Butte à Canons. (See Practical information).
(13) Feel free to climb it to discover a large part of the Paris region. Go back down the Saint Hubert track and take it on your left. You will arrive at a large roundabout and the Allée Royale. Turn right onto Allée Royale and continue straight ahead until you reach the intersection with two parallel lanes. Turn left and follow the UCPA equestrian centre until you reach the entrance.
(14) Feel free to go inside and discover a restaurant and refreshment bar. When you come out, turn right back towards Allée Royale and then left to see the Château de Vincennes and return to the intersection you encountered on the way there.
(1) Continue straight ahead and you will return to the starting point (S/E).
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