Bièvres (Essonne) walks

A circuit with varied landscapes, in the Verrières forest and along the Bièvre river. A breath of fresh air and greenery just a few kilometres from the capital.

A short half-day walk. After a good walk through the woods, the route becomes more heritage-oriented with the hamlet of Vauboyen and the Maison Victor Hugo. The walk ends along the River Bièvre.

Hike connecting Igny (Essonne) to the Palace of Versailles. The route follows the Bievre, and 80% of the route is on roads through forests. A calm, cool walk with scenery that will leave you with a unique souvenir.

Short, easy hike in the Verrières-le-Buisson Forest.

This is a fairly short hike that allows you to discover two rigoles (small water collection channels) on the Saclay Plateau: the Rigole Domaniale and the Rigole de Favreuse. These rigoles were built in the 17th century to supply water to the Palace of Versailles. The route alternates between woods and cultivated fields, with a rich heritage in Vauhallan.

A beautiful, challenging hike with elevation gain, along trails and paths, away from the main forest roads. A good training route. Be careful, this is a complex route that is relatively difficult to navigate. If you are quiet enough, you may come across deer. This route is best in summer (or all year round if you don't mind water and mud).

Just 20 kilometres away, the Saclay plateau is the largest cultivated area closest to Paris. This easy route features numerous information panels explaining agriculture and environmental management in a highly urbanised region.

Second stage of the Grand Tour of Île-de-France via the GR®11, from Massy to Saint-Cyr l'École, behind Versailles.This stage, more bucolic than the previous one, consists of continuing up the Bièvre river in its valley, where it is almost entirely in the open air. Arriving near its source in Guyancourt, the GR® leaves the valley and continues towards Saint-Cyr-l'École.

This hike follows the route of the T12 tram-train, connecting Massy-Palaiseau to Évry-Courcouronnes, and allows you to discover a varied landscape combining urban areas, natural spaces and neighbourhoods undergoing rapid change. The route takes you along the greenway that runs alongside the T12, between Épinay-sur-Orge station and the Évry-Courcouronnes terminus, offering a pleasant and safe section for pedestrians and cyclists. This walk offers an immersion in the areas served by this new line, with opportunities to stop at the various stations to fully enjoy the local heritage and green spaces.

For tree and garden enthusiasts, this is an exotic walk just a stone's throw from Paris! The arboretum has a wide variety of species and landscapes. An enchanting detour through Île Verte completes the picture.

Sung about by Georges Brassens, the Bois de Clamart and Meudon woods offer many attractions for walkers, in addition to "little flowers" and "friends". The numerous ponds dotted along the route are particularly enjoyable. A few paths winding through the undergrowth, some remarkable trees and a little heritage add to the pleasure of this half-day walk.

Hike in the Yvette Valley offering beautiful views of the plain with its market gardens and requiring some effort thanks to the steep wooded hillsides covered in particular by the Rocher de Saulx national forest.

A hike from station to station, mainly through forest. Although located in an urban setting, this route takes you through green (in season) and peaceful areas. The Chêne des Missions oak tree and the Étang du Trou au Gants pond are two beautiful points of interest.

A beautiful, challenging hike in the forest, just a stone's throw from Paris. Choose between 25 km or 35 km, with 700 and 900 m of elevation gain respectively. Despite a few urban sections, most of the route is in the heart of the forest, shaded by deciduous trees. The forest is beautiful, and there are some lovely views, but the appeal is more athletic than touristy. The route includes many quick changes of direction, making it difficult to follow without GPS. The entire route is less than 10 km from the western part of Paris.

You pass by the Etang d'Ursine, a nameless pond, then the Etang du Trou aux Gants, before reaching the Chêne des Missions, a remarkable tree surrounded by pseudo-megaliths. This route starts in the Mare Adam forest park and continues through the Meudon National Forest, with a brief detour into a pretty residential area. Allow half a day for this walk.

A route from station to station, through the woods and with some elevation gain. Walking or jogging.