Paris: The Triumphal Arch

Paris
The Triumphal Arch
Distance: About 4.5 miles, 7km, round trip
Start and Finish: Tuileries Metro Station

Want a way to experience the grand shopping avenue of the Champs- Elysées without spending the money? Make it your jogging course while being able to enjoy the Tuileries Gardin and making a pass in front of the Grand Palais. There is an arch at each end of the run so that you always have a target to keep you going; the Arc de Carrousel overlooking the Tuileries and the Arc de Triomphe at the top of the hill, ordered by Napoleon a monument to the army.

- From the Tuileries station, run to the middle of the gardens and turn right towards place de la Concorde.
- After the square, on the right, cross into and go through the Champs-Élysée Garden. You’ll see the Palais de l’Élysée on the right.
- Turn left on Av. De Marigny and pass around the side of the Grand Palais.
- On Av. F D Roosevelt, turn right onto R François Premier. At the pretty square with a fountain, turn left and stop for the chapel Notre-Dame de la Consolation.
- Go back to Franois and turn left up to Montaigne (there are lots of fancy shops here). Make a right and run back towards the Champs-Elysées. There is a roundabout and you’ll be able to see the Arc de Triomphe from here, which is your next mark.
- Once you reach the other arch, do a loop around to take in the details and then you’re ready to make your way back. Arch to arch, the triumph is finishing with a full pocketbook.

Posted by GBR457

Paris: Jardin du Luxembourg

Paris
Jardin du Luxembourg
Distance: Runner's choice
Start and Finish: Runner's choice


The Luxembourg Gardens are great for all types of runners. Marie de Medicis had the park built to replicate her Florentine childhood home, after her husband Henri IV was killed. It is easy to get to whether you want to run from wherever you are staying or take a metro to one of several metro stops nearby and run from there. The 60-acre park is filled with fountains, sculpture, ponds, flowerbeds, tennis courts, a marionette theatre, playgrounds, and even bee keepers tending to honey bees. There are plenty of places to stop for a mid or post run snack so carry a couple of Euros with your keys. Sometimes you can see the Sorbonne students taking their lunch or working on projects out in the grass. The park is 2 miles around the perimeter but filled with paths to take up as much or as little time as you would like.

Posted by jrRunK

Bordeaux: For Flower Lovers

Bordeaux
For Flower Lovers
Distance: Runner's Choice
Start and Finish: Jardin Public

For the small size of the city, Bordeaux must know some wonderful secrets about horticulture. Delicate flower beds are everywhere. Luckily, one of the best gardens in town is also located at a great place to run. The Jardin Public of Bordeaux covers over 12 hectares filled with energetic landscaping, a small lake with islands to cross onto, and a botanical garden. It's the perfect place for peace and quiet after long days of heavy wine drinking! The hard sand trails will leave your knees much happier then the usual concrete that you pound them on. There are even some convenient toilets so you have no more excuses not to do that extra lap, and a cafe that opens on the southwest corner in the late afternoons. Just watch out that the ducks don't nip at your ankles while you run.

- The park is 3/4 mile around and about 1/4 mile if you run up the middle to the other side, so run as many laps as fits your workout for the day.
- If you want to go a little further and see more flower, take Rue Ferrére out from the park to the river and take a right all the way until the misting reflecting pool. On the other side of it there are some more beautiful flower beds to enjoy. It's about another 3/4 miles to that point.
- Or take Rue David Johnston from the park, make a left on Blvd. du President Wilson, and a right on Ave. Carnot to get to the Parc Bordelais. It's a little over 1 mile from one park to the other.

Posted by RunnerGirl5