Bassin du Grand Jet walks

A route through two wooded areas on either side of the Seine. From one large waterfall to another, from one racecourse to another, the hike alternates between paths and urban passages, flower beds and sculpted heritage, ponds and lakes.

Although highly urbanised, western Paris offers a considerable density of green spaces and forests, which this series of hikes, from station to station or in a circular route starting from a station, invites you to (re)discover. Several forest areas are on the programme: Saint-Cloud, La Celle, Marly, Versailles, Les Tailles d'Herbelaye and Saint-Germain-en-Laye. There is also a rich heritage to discover, particularly in the parks of Saint-Cloud and Marly, in Marnes-la-Coquette, Chambourcy and Poissy.

A hike that starts on the banks of the Seine and then crosses the Parc de Saint-Cloud, passing by its main lakes. You then stroll through Marnes-la-Coquette and Ville-d'Avray at the foot of beautiful, large houses. After winding your way between the Étangs de Ville-d'Avray, you walk through the southern part of the Forêt de Fausses-Reposes. The hike ends in a residential neighbourhood of Versailles.

The Parc de Boulogne, not to be confused with the Bois du même nom, offers visitors the chance to discover its English-style park and Japanese garden. After visiting the park, you can stroll through the streets of the Menus district, the historic heart of Boulogne.

A short hike that starts on a little-known path along the Seine. It then runs alongside the Longchamp racecourse and the Suresnes and Longchamp ponds. After a brief stop at the Grande Cascade, it reaches Lac Supérieur and explores its southern tip. The route ends with a crossing of the Auteuil racecourse, on days when there are no horse races, of course.

This hike first takes us up the hill of Saint-Cloud, then through the park of the same name with its gardens, flower beds, ponds and Greco-Roman-inspired statues. We then walk through a residential area with beautiful houses. After crossing the Bois de La Celle, we walk through the "village" of La Celle Saint-Cloud to reach Bougival station.

The route mainly follows the Seine towpath, close to the river, and should not be attempted during periods of high water. Many houseboats are permanently moored along the route, which ends at the foot of the impressive towers of La Défense. Do not undertake this trip when the Seine is in flood.

The municipality of Boulogne-Billancourt has commissioned an association to cover a wall approximately 200 metres long with murals. The main aim of this short urban walk is to admire these works of art, which may change over time. Before reaching them, you can see a few trompe-l’œil paintings indicating the direction of the city’s museums.

For what will no doubt remain a long time to come, the names of Billancourt andÎleSeguin are associated with the Renault factories, which closed their doors in 1992. Boulogne-Billancourt’s industrial and working-class past is not limited to car manufacturing but also encompasses other sectors: laundries (to which we owe the fact that no railway line runs through the town), ice works, aeronautics, telecommunications equipment, cinema and the record industry… This urban walking tour, inspired by the brochure and information panels provided by the town’s Tourist Office, aims to retrace this working-class past. It also offers an opportunity to observe how the urban landscape of a town in the Petite Couronne of Paris has changed radically over the course of a few decades.

A walk from station to station that crosses Parc de Saint-Cloud, with its ponds and sculptures, and the Fausses Reposes State Forest. Between the two, the village-like town of Marnes-la-Coquette adds a lovely touch of heritage, and the Jardy Stud Farm offers the chance to stroll amongst vast meadows and the facilities of a major equestrian centre.