Parc de Thoiry

As well as a beautiful château, the Parc de Thoiry houses one of Europe's first animal reserves and a 2300-metre long maze. Make a day of it and follow the long safari park trail, accessible only by car, to see zebras rub their noses over your windscreen and bears amble down tracks. In the adjoining zoo, rarities include Siberian lynx and Tonkean macaques. In the afternoon, stroll through the sculpted gardens to the château, where period rooms are filled with furniture  from the 16th to the 20th centuries.