Bailly (Yvelines) walks

The Forest of Marly covers 2,000 hectares about twenty kilometres west of Paris, between Saint-Germain-en-Laye and Versailles. It stretches 12 km from east to west and connects to the Forest of Saint-Germain-en-Laye via the Plaine de la Jonction. It is a former hunting ground of the kings of France. The hike includes a route through this forest starting from Bailly.

This short walk allows you to explore the surroundings of Bailly and Roquencourt. If the forest ground is muddy, you can return via the same route you took on the way there. Bailly and Rocquencourt are located in the Versailles plain on the edge of the Forest of Marly. The municipal area of Rocquencourt is relatively small: it is one of the smallest municipalities in the Yvelines department.

The park is located in Marly-le-Roi and managed by the Public Establishment of the Palace, Museum and National Estate of Versailles. A sloping park on the south bank of the Seine, its lower part overlooks the centre of Marly. To the east, it is very close to the Louveciennes national forest, from which it is separated by the Route de Versailles. It still features the grand alignments of the Louis XIV era, the layout of the château on the ground, and the drinking trough downstream of the park with its two basins topped by copies of the Chevaux de Marly. The royal gate and the gates of the former château, such as the main gate and the Phare gate, protect access to the estate. The GPX track may prove useful.

A half-day walk, mainly in the woods, with a beautiful pond and the vast lawn of the Domaine de Beauregard.

A former royal estate (Louis XIV liked to entertain his friends here, away from the court), the Parc de Marly combines a rich heritage with the pleasure of strolling along woodland paths, wide avenues and vast lawns.

A relatively short route but with some steep slopes, in a beautiful forest setting.

A short walk along the streams of the Plaine de Versailles, including the Ru de Gally, which has its source in the castle grounds. The charming village of Rennemoulin boasts a chapel, a wash house and an old bridge, while the Fontaine de Maltoute fountain offers a pleasant, shaded spot to stop for a break. Unacceptable behaviour has been observed; see the warning in the practical information section.

This circular mainly covers the Marly Forest, allowing you to walk theGR®1from Chambourcy to Louveciennes. On the way back, the route crosses the Parc du Domaine Royal de Marly.

A hike from station to station that crosses the Marly National Forest and then the Tailles d'Herbelay Departmental Forest. It then offers a visit to the charming town centre of Chambourcy and a short walk in the Saint-Germain-en-Laye National Forest. The route ends in Poissy, where you can admire the Collegiate Church of Notre-Dame and the remains of the Old Bridge over the Seine.

A mainly forest route with several remarkable trees here and there. The site of the Croix Saint-Michel offers a view stretching as far as Paris. A short but fairly challenging hike, given the alternating ascents and descents (the total elevation gain is probably underestimated; allow for around 200m).

Around Saint-Nom-la-Bretèche station - Marly Forest, a walk in a beautiful deciduous forest. It suffered greatly from the great storm of 1999, which flattened the oak trees on the motorway like straw, but this hike has a high density of remarkable trees (oaks, hornbeams, beeches). As the Marly forest is crossed by several busy roads, this hike focuses on the quietest part. It also offers a few viewpoints.

The park of the Palace of Versailles covers 815 hectares in the municipality of Versailles. It is managed by the public institution of the Palace and Estate of Versailles. Apart from the main tourist sites of the Palace, it is occupied by forest and agricultural plots, criss-crossed by large straight paths. It is in this park that the Gally stream, which drains the Grand Canal, originates and flows westwards. The route starts at the Saint Antoine gate, passes behind the palace, and ends with a tour of the Trianon estate, allowing you to return to the Saint Antoine gate. It includes a passage through the palace gardens, which are only accessible free of charge in winter.

A tour of the grounds of the Palace of Versailles, including the Swiss Garden and a visit to the King's Kitchen Garden.

A mainly forest route despite its proximity to Paris! After crossing the Bois de Louveciennes, you can enjoy the Parc de Marly, with its views and ponds. The route ends in the Marly National Forest, with a winding path at first, then a wide, straight path.

The route goes around the Joyenval golf course, on which the old abbey is located, and passes in front of the Désert de Retz. The ruins of the Château de Montjoie and a hunting table are also located near the route.

This is the third stage of the GR® 11 Grand Tour of Île-de-France. It continues through the Yvelines, between Saint-Cyr station and Villiers-Neauphle-Pontchartrain station. This stage completes the 'radial' part of the GR® starting from Paris and joins the circular loop that circles the region from Villiers-Saint-Frédéric. The route passes through increasingly large wooded areas as you approach the countryside.

This circuit consists almost exclusively of paved forest roads, at least in part, and is closed to motor traffic. This allows you to hike in the forest without having to surf on paths full of water and mud in winter.

This urban route, in the heart of Versailles, takes you to places that marked the beginning of the French Revolution. We start at the Hôtel des Menus Plaisirs, where the Estates General met on 5 May 1789. We pass by Saint Louis Cathedral, where a mass was held before the opening. Finally, we visit the Salle du Jeu de Paume, where on 20 June 1789, 578 deputies took an oath not to separate until a new constitution had been promulgated.