Château d'Épône walks

Sixth stage of the Grand Tour de l'Île-de-France on the GR® 11, linking Mantes-Station railway station in the Yvelines to the village of Genainville in the Val d'Oise, in the heart of the French Vexin. This stage is the first part of a two-day route, the aim of which is to connect Mantes-Station railway station to Chars railway station, further north-east in the Val d'Oise.The stage begins in Mantes-la-Jolie in the Seine valley and heads north through the south-western part of the Vexin Français Regional Nature Park, quickly passing from one of the lowest points in the region (crossing the Seine, at ~18 m) to one of the highest points (the beech forest at Villiers-en-Arthies, at 205 m).The French Vexin, with its unspoilt agricultural and wooded landscapes, is a magnificent region where it is very pleasant to hike.

A fairly easy walk from station to station, the first part of which is through woodland where you can admire superb specimens of various species of deciduous trees, particularly beeches and oaks, which are certainly over a hundred years old. You also pass close to the Alluets-le-Roi telecommunications centre and its many antennas of all types.The second part, which is more varied, includes a visit to the ruins of Abbecourt Abbey and the centres of the villages of Orgeval and Villennes-sur-Seine with their churches. The walk ends with a pleasant stroll along the banks of the Seine.

A lovely walk along the banks of the Seine, passing through pretty villages such as Evecquemont. The starting point and finishing point are two stations on the same SNCF line.

A hike from station to station which, with a few climbs, leads from the Seine valley to the Oise valley. After the streets, alleys and paths of Triel-sur-Seine and Chanteloup-les-Vignes, you cross the Hautil Forest in a very pleasant way. Three beautiful churches and two beautiful farmhouses are to be discovered along the way.

Fourth stage of the Grand Tour de l'Île-de-France on the GR® 11 and start of the clockwise circular section.This stage takes place entirely in the Yvelines department, connecting Villiers-Neauphle-Pontchartrain station to Orgerus-Béhoust station, crossing the Beynes forest and the agricultural landscapes of the Yvelines. The route runs alongside the Avre aqueduct, which supplies drinking water to western Paris.

Fifth stage of the Grand Tour of Île-de-France on the GR®11, connecting Orgerus-Béhoust station to Mantes-Station, still through the Yvelines. This is a northbound route that joins the Seine valley at Mantes-la-Jolie, descending the valleys of the Flexanville and then the Vaucouleurs rivers. The route follows both paths at the bottom of the valley and paths on the adjacent plateaus.

A hike from station to station, most of which takes place in the Forest of Saint-Germain-en-Laye, which we cross from south-west to north-east. It is an opportunity to walk through forests of various species and to come across two ancient crosses and two oratories. The route ends with a water theme, at the confluence of the Seine and the Oise.

A hike from station to station with the Oise as the guiding thread. You will cross several wooded parks and follow the river for a long time, mostly on a right of way. At the end of the route, the passage through Auvers-sur-Oise is an opportunity to evoke the famous painter Vincent Van Gogh.

A station-to-station walk, which can also be done as a slightly shorter loop. The route is mainly woodland, using both signposted paths and little-travelled paths in the undergrowth. The Étang du Corra, a protected site, offers an interlude with beautiful views and the chance to spot many birds.

Seventh stage of the Grand Tour of Île-de-France on the GR®11, starting from the village of Genainville, in the heart of the French Vexin, and heading towards Chars station further east. This stage goes hand in hand with the previous Mantes-Genainville stage, with a night in Genainville or the surrounding area necessary to walk between Mantes and Chars stations. This beautiful stage continues the crossing of the equally magnificent French Vexin Regional Nature Park, heading generally eastwards. It joins andthen climbs up the Aubette de Magny valley, crosses a series of agricultural plateaus between Oise and Val d'Oise before descending into the Viosne valley to reach Chars.