Celebrate Take a Walk in the Park Day!

In celebration of Take a Walk in the Park Day (5/30), we’re looking at some beautiful parks in four countries: Japan, Taiwan, Spain and France.

Famous Parks in Japan

By Sakura

新宿御苑 Shinjukugyoen (Tokyo) [Map]

Shinjukugyoen is a 145-acre oasis in metropolitan Tokyo. It was originally built in 1906 as an exclusive garden for the imperial　family. It became a public park after World War II.

 

代々木公園 Yoyogi Park (Tokyo) [Map]

Before opening as a 133-acre city park in 1967, this area was used for the Tokyo Olympics housing the main athletes village. People visit the park for exercising, flea markets, and rock concerts.

 

兼六園 Kenrokuen (Ishikawa) [Map]

Built in the 19th century, Kenrokuen is one of the Three Great Gardens of Japan. It’s famous for its beauty in all seasons.

 

高遠城址公園 Takato Joshi Park (Nagano) [Map]

This is one of the most famous places to see cherry blossoms. The park has 1500 “kohiganzakura” cherry trees. This type of tree is exclusive to this area.

 

奈良公園 Nara Park (Nara) [Map]

Nara Park is not just a park, it showcases the heritage of the Nara period (710 - 794). There you’ll find Todaiji (temple), Kofukuji (temple),　Kasuga Taisha (shrine), Nara National Museum, and more great history from　this fascinating era. If you’re not one to fawn over ancient history, the 1630-acre park is also famous for being home to over 1200 deer.

Famous Parks in Taiwan

by Khung

 

Kenting National Park (墾丁國家公園；kěn ding1 guó jiā gōng yuán）

Kenting National Park (墾丁國家公園；kěn ding1 guó jiā gōng yuán）. The landscape of Kenting Park is divided into two long and narrow parts, with mountains in the north and south with coral tablelands.It is of tropical climate and one of the top 10 tropical botanical gardens in the world. There are 4246 kinds of animals and 1520 kinds of plants in the park.

Yangmingshan National Park (陽明山國家公園; yáng míng shān guó jiā gōng yuán)
Photo by:Bellenion

The Yangmingshan National Park (陽明山國家公園; yáng míng shān guó jiā gōng yuán) is located between Taipei City and New Taipei City, Taiwan.

 

Taroko National Park (太魯閣國家公園; Tài lǔ gé gúo jiā gōng yuá)

photo by: Kailing3

Yushan National Park (玉山國家公園; yù shān gúojiā gōngyuán) is one of the eight national parks in Taiwan and is the highest peak of the park.

Famous Parks in Spain

By Anna

 

El Retiro de Madrid, (“The Retreat of Madrid”), is one of the largest parks in Madrid situated in the center of the capital. The park belonged to the Monarchy until it was donated to the city in the 19th century. The most extraordinary building is el Palacio de Cristal, “The Crystal Palace“, a glass pavilion. It is made almost entirely of glass set in an iron framework and was originally built to exhibit flora and fauna from the Philippines. The Crystal Palace is situated in front of a lake and is currently used for art exhibits only. [Map]

El Parque Güell, Barcelona, is a beautiful complex of gardens and buildings designed by the architect Antoni Gaudí and was constructed in 1900. Like most of his work, the entrance buildings have fantastical roofs and multicolored mosaics made of ceramic pieces. My favorite point of the park is the terrace which is surrounded by a long bench in the form of a sea serpent. The park supports the largest community of wild parrots in Barcelona. [Map]

El Parque de Maria Luisa, Sevilla. Originally, the gardens of this park were the private gardens of the royal palace of San Telmo in Sevilla. The gardes were donated as a public space to the city by the princess. The moorish style buildings are surrounded by palm, orange trees and Mediterranean pines. La plaza de España is a big circle with a beautiful fountain in the center surrounded by colored tiles that represent the different provinces of Spain. [Map]

La Rosaleda, Madrid. La Rosaleda, Garden of Roses, is a beautiful landscape to visit during the bloom season, from spring to summer. It is located inside a larger park called el Parque del Oeste(West Park), situated in the west side of Madrid. The colors and the smells of thousands of roses of many different varieties will take over the visitor’s senses. Every year during the month of May a rose festival is celebrated - a contest to choose the most beautiful rose of all. [Map]

Famous Parks in France

By Sev

 

French people are known to take time for leisure, enjoying moments with family and friends, especially around food, and a long meal. But like all people, they have a profound need to go ‘outside’, beyond the bounds of work and home, and reconnect with a greater place, one where Nature shows itself more or less in the wild state.

Most Europe and its natural landscape have been transformed and tamed by humans cultures throughout History. Some areas have been relatively recently protected to preserve in a largely undisturbed natural state, like the national parks of France. But most parks in France are in effect created by man according to his conceptions of mostly aesthetic ideals. However, there is now a new trend that is challenging the old traditions.

 

Many parks are associated withchâteaux (castles). At 2,459 acres, the bois de Vincennes is the largest public park in Paris. It contains the Château de Vincennes, and landscape garden in an English style, with a hippodrome (horse-racing track). There, some initial trials are conducted to use Ouessant sheeps instead of lawnmowers under the scheme eco-paturage (ecopasture), which could then be applied to other parks in Paris.

 

The Jardins du Luxembourg(Luxembourg Gardens) are the second largest public park in Paris. They are constantly visited by people who stroll or sit on the many benches found throughout the park. The French Senate is located in the Luxembourg Palace.

 

 

The Jardins du château de Versailles (The Gardens of Versailles) during Louis XIV cover some 800 hectacres of gardens mostly in the classic French style, with manicured lawns, parterres of flowers, and unique fountain sculptures with grand spectacles (Grandes Eaux). They are on the UNESCO World Heritage List and some of the most visited public sites in France.

LES GRANDES EAUX NOCTURNES DE VERSAILLES

Photo credit: Wikimedia Commons