🏔 Chamonix, while boasting many terrific hiking routes and skiing opportunities, can also lay claim to some 🌲 beautiful parks, gardens and woodland. This could be of particular interest if you have small children or babies in buggies!
Parc Couttet (centre of Chamonix)
A relative newcomer to Chamonix, inaugurated in the summer of 2015, the 🌳 Parc Couttet is a little gem of a park, right in the centre of Chamonix! It leads down from 🎼 La Maison des Artistes, and sometimes there are open-air concerts here. It’s a good place to organise 🍏 picnics and children’s games! During the 🎼 CosmoJazz festival during the summer months, there is a stage set up here.
Bois du Bouchet (on road to Argentière)
The 🌲 Bois du Bouchet hosts the parapente landing field, cross-country ski routes and a 🛷 sledging area in ❄️ winter. Come spring, summer and autumn, it becomes a great place to walk, run or cycle with small children, with designated paths, 🚵♀️ cycle routes, 🍏 picnic tables and plenty of shade. There is an easy hiking & strolling route through the woods, up to Les Praz and back via the river path, accessible in both winter and summer; this is an ideal baby-carrier, sledge or buggy walk (with decent wheels), depending on the weather. There is ♿️ handicapped access on landscaped paths, with explanatory panels along the way detailing mountain terrain, flora and fauna.
[ ⇒ for more information about the 🌲 Bois du Bouchet, see separate MBFF article here ]
Les Gaillands (on road to Les Bossons)
As well as being the 🧗♂️ main outdoor climbing area in Chamonix, there is a (mostly) shaded path leading from the climbing rocks down towards Les Bossons, through 🌲 the woods and along the 💦 Arve river. At Les Bossons, the path leads off towards a small playground, or heads more steeply up towards Les Houches. This path is possible with a good buggy or bike.
Paradis des Praz (Les Praz de Chamonix)
What a little treasure this natural playground is in summer time! 🌲 Nestled in the woods near to the ⛳️ golf course in Les Praz, right next to 💦 a gurgling stream, Le Paradis des Praz is a wonderful place for children to splash around in the shallow water. You can walk with buggies through the woods to get there, or even cycle. There is a small playground next to the stream, 🐴 pony rides in summer and a ☕️ small café for snacks. It can get very busy in summer, but there is plenty of shade.
[ ⇒ for more information on Le Paradis des Praz, see MBFF article here ]
Japanese Gardens: Les Jardins de Fujiyoshida (centre of Chamonix)
Hidden up above the 💎 Espace Tairraz, this is 🌷 a pretty landscaped park. You’ll come across a sweet statue, created by 🇯🇵 Japanese sculptor Mr Shôzô Hamada in 1998, to celebrate 10 years of jumelage between 🇯🇵 Fujiyoshida and 🇫🇷 Chamonix; the title of the statue is « warashiko », meaning « child ».
Parks, Woods & Gardens au Pays du Mont-Blanc
For some further ideas for 🌷 parks, 🌳 woods and 🌹 gardens au Pays du Mont-Blanc (and beyond) see MBFF articles:
🌷 Springtime Blossom & Flowers au Pays du Mont-Blanc (and beyond);
🍁 AUTUMN PARKS & GARDENS au Pays du Mont-Blanc (and beyond);
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