copyright 2012 Lisa B. Falour, B.S., M.B.A. all rights reserved LISA, INC. (EURL) cutecatfaith.combr br My YouTube channels: SLOBOMOTION and CUTECATFAITH.br br I can see the bunny grooming itself in this clip, but it is so well camoflaged, I doubt you will see it! This is either the largest public park in France, or one of the biggest. La Courneuve used to be the property of the abbey basilica of Saint-Denis, and was used for orchards, crops, animal husbandry, wood for fuel, etc., as there were usually at least 200 people resident at the abbey at any given time. The basilica is the world's first Gothic cathedral and Saint-Denis has a fascinating and important history in the story of France. Saint-Denis was the number one place of Christian worship in all of France for over 1,000 years. Denys was the first bishop of Paris and was martyred by Romans, along with two other clergy members. Saint-Denis was the capital of France before Paris, and after its Roman name was no longer used, it was known as PAYS DE FRANCE. During the first French Revolution in the 18th c., when religion was outlawed, Saint-Denis was known as FRANCIADE.br br To get to this park from Paris, there is a métro which terminates in La Courneuve. Take this métro to the end of the line, and transfer to the T1 tramway, in the direction of Saint-Denis (slightly to the West). Get off at the "Six Routes" stop of the tramway. Just check a map, and you will see you are near one of the many park entrances. The park is so big, it has entrances in quite a few towns and cities in the Seine-Saint-Denis département!br br You will first find a huge riding stable, where there is a clubhouse and toilets. There are dog runs in the park, a boulodrome, lakes and a river, a firing range, some rides for children and snack places during warm weather, sports fields, places to run and ride bikes, tidy manicured garden-type areas and wild, hilly forest areas, and there's plenty of free parking if you go via automobile. After you visit this lovely park, take a bus or the tramway to Saint-Denis and visit its famous market, arguably the largest in Europe. It runs every Tuesday, Friday and Sunday morning. The basilica has a royal necropolis you can visit, the Legion of Honor is there (with a lovely public park adjacent), Saint-Denis has an excellent museum, and you can shop for many things you'll find in Paris -- but at a substantial discount. From Saint-Denis, you can get back to Paris on the 13 métro or you can take the 153 bus to Porte de La Chapelle, where you can get a métro, also. Paris is surrounded by lovely green places and castles and other sites of interest which are largely accessible via public transportation! I am available as a private guide.br br In this clip, you can see some of the huge variety of trees which have been carefully planted in the park, and lovely Fall foliage colors reflected in calm water. The horse facility is run by UCPA, and you can look that up and see when they have events, trail rides and carriage outings in the park. Of course, you can board a horse there or take lessons there. They feature a small herd of Camargue horses.br br You might want to consider staying at the Hotel F1 on Avenue Lenine in Saint-Denis, for a no-frills place to stay, rather than in central Paris. I have some clips up of this place on YouTube. They do book well in advance, however, so plan ahead. This "pod hotelmotel" chain is very popular in France and is part of the AccorMotel 6 chain. The F1 on Avenue Lenine is 39 euros per night. Though it is no-frills, you will find plenty of shops and services nearby, and Saint-Denis has a border contiguous with that of Paris.