In north of the Bois de Vincennes stands the Chateau de Vincennes, which used to be a favorite second home for many 14th-century kings. Now it is in renovation but it is still open to the public. In the southwest of the park stands the Redoute de Gravelle, a military redoubt constructed under the reign of Louis-Philippe of France in the 19th century.

The Bois de Vincennes is home to several sports venues. In the eastern part lies a hippodrome specializing in trotting races. There is also a velodrome, tennis courts, a rugby stadium, and the French National Institute of Sports and Physical Education (INSEP).

Some 1,200 mammals and birds can be seen at the 33-acre Parc Zoologique, the largest zoo in France. The most striking element is the 210-foot high steel-and-concrete monolith called the Grand Rocher. This is an artificial rock built in 1934, inhabited by mouflons, wild mountain sheep. For three euros, you can take an elevator to the top. This permanent zoo was created in 1934 in place of a smaller temporary zoo constructed for the 1931 Paris Exhibition. The zoo is also famous for breeding Asian elephants.