From one Olympic venue to another: from the Arena to the Yves-du-Manoir Stadium

Departure from the Arena, near the Nanterre-Préfecture RER station.

(S/E) From the Arena, turn left, then right onto Boulevard de Pesaro. After the crossroads on the right, take the path that runs alongside the boulevard on the right until you reach Place Nelson Mandela and the Espace d'art terrace.

(1) Continue straight ahead on Boulevard du 17 Octobre 1961. Cross Boulevard Jacques Germain Soufflot to reach a pedestrian walkway.

(2) Take it on the right, then turn left and right to pass the cinema. Then turn left onto Esplanade Patrice Chéreau and pass the university.

(3) Continue along Rue Anatole France until the end.

(4) To get to the arboretum, keep going straight ahead on Rue Anathole France.

(5) You can reach the banks of the Seine by continuing straight ahead. Return to Avenue de la République.

(4) Follow it on the right and go to the first road on the right, Avenue Hoche.

(6) Go up this avenue, keeping to the left. Continue to the park entrance at the end and the towpath.

(7) Turn right onto the towpath and stop at the Parc Départemental de Lagravière, staying alongside the river.

(8) Continue along the towpath and stay alongside the Seine. Go to the end of the park and turn right before the bridge. Join Rue Paul Bert/D106.

(9) Cross the street, then pass under the A86 and continue along Rue Paul Bert until you reach Rue François Faber. Go up this street on the left, then turn right and go straight ahead until you reach the Stade départemental Yves du Manoir (E).

Departing from Nanterre - Paris La Défense Arena, you will arrive in Colombes at the legendary Yves-du-Manoir departmental stadium, the Olympic competition and training venue for the 2024 Paris Games for field hockey events.

1 - Nanterre-Paris La Défense Arena

You are now on the forecourt of Paris La Défense Arena in Nanterre (99, Jardin de l'Arche in Nanterre). Both the home ground of the Racing 92 rugby club and a concert venue, this arena will host the swimming, para-swimming and water polo finals of Paris 2024. Before you leave, don't forget to admire the nearby La Défense Arch.

2 - Nanterre - La Terrasse Espace d'art

La Terrasse Espace d'art is a contemporary art centre offering a programme of exhibitions, cultural events and works of art in public spaces (free admission). Take the time to admire the works in its window display. On the way, you will pass the Hauts-de-Seine Prefecture, designed by architect André Wogenscky.
This building overlooks the city from a height of 113 metres.

3 - Nanterre - Paris Nanterre University

When you arrive at the station forecourt (named Esplanade Patrice Chéreau in tribute to the director, producer and actor who made his mark on the history of the Théâtre Nanterre-Amandiers from 1982 to 1990), you will see the Paris Nanterre University campus and its street art trail (a collaboration between the University Foundation, the Louvre Museum and seven French street artists to mark the 50th anniversary of May 1968) and La Contemporaine, a hybrid venue that is a library, archive and research museum specialising in contemporary history and international relations in^{the 20th} and^21st centuries (free admission to the permanent exhibition: L'Atelier de l'histoire).

4 - Nanterre - The Arboretum

The Arboretum is the largest solid wood office project in Europe (opening soon). It is located on the site of the former Papeteries de la Seine, of which two buildings remain, one of which is occupied by Arkose (bouldering gym, bar and restaurant). If the Chemin de l'Île departmental park is open, take the path that runs alongside it to enter and reach the banks of the Seine.
Alternative: when the park is closed, at the intersection of Rue Anatole France and Avenue de la République, continue along the cycle path on your right until you reach the intersection with Rue du 11 Novembre 1918. Take the footbridge to cross the A86 motorway and reach the banks of the Seine via the cycle path on Rue Jean Perrin.

5 - Nanterre - Colombes on the banks of the Seine

Formerly a towpath used to pull barges and other boats, the Promenade Bleue is ideal for strolling along the banks of the Seine. Along the way, you will see the EOLE footbridge, which crosses the Seine above the flower-covered island and connects Nanterre to the towns of Bezons, Houilles and Carrières-sur-Seine on foot and by bike. You can also enjoy the landscapes that inspired Guy de Maupassant's short story "Une partie de Campagne" (A Trip to the Country), as well as many Impressionist painters, including Claude Monet. Did you know? The Promenade Bleue, with its 9 km of banks developed by the Department, connects Rueil-Malmaison to the Lagravère departmental park in Colombes via the Chemin de l'Île park in Nanterre.

6 - Colombes - Pierre Lagravère Departmental Park

Lagravère Park is a recent construction that unifies former islands that were once separated, including Marante Island and Moulin-Joly Island, which were popular destinations in^{the 18th} century. Look into the distance and you will see the Colombes Olympic swimming pool, which served as a training camp for the French swimming team for the 2008 Beijing Olympics. It is the training pool for artistic swimming for the 2024 Paris Olympics. Not far from here, on the banks of the Seine, the rowing events of the Paris Olympic Games took place from 13 to 17 July 1924: a 2 km straight course on the Seine between the Argenteuil railway bridge and the tip of the Ile-Saint-Denis. There are toilets, bike racks, picnic tables and water fountains.

7 - Colombes - Yves du Manoir Stadium

Formerly a racecourse and legendary venue for the 1924 Olympic Games, this Mecca of French sport will host the field hockey events of the Paris 2024 Games 100 years later. The stadium also hosted some major sporting events until the 1970s (the 1938 World Cup final and a record attendance of 63,638 spectators on 5 March 1969 for the European Cup match between Ajax Amsterdam and Benfica Lisbon). Owned by the Hauts-de-Seine Department, the Yves-du-Manoir Stadium became the home ground of the Racing 92 rugby club from 2003 to 2017.