From Boulogne to Bougival via the Parc de Saint-Cloud and the Bois de La Celle

Starting point and access: Rhin et Danube roundabout.
- Metro - Line 10, Boulogne-Pont de Saint-Cloud station (terminus). Take exit 4 Avenue du Maréchal de Lattre de Tassigny even numbers, at the front of the train, then the stairs on the right.
- Bus - Lines 52, 72, 126, 160, 175, 260, 467.
For access by tram (line T2) or Transilien (line L), see the options in the practical information section.

Without signage

(S) Follow Avenue du Maréchal de Lattre de Tassigny as it continues from the stairs, away from the roundabout. At the traffic lights, cross Quai Alphonse Le Gallo in several stages. Take the Pont de Saint-Cloud bridge to cross the Seine. Then cross the quay at the pedestrian crossings, again in several stages. Under the A13 motorway bridge, turn right and walk along the tram station on your left.

At the end, climb a staircase and then take the bridge on the left that crosses the tram line. Continue straight ahead on Rue Vauguyon (dead end). Climb a staircase and cross Rue Dailly at the traffic lights. Climb another staircase, flanked on the right by an escalator, which you are welcome to use. At the top, turn slightly to the right. Opposite the town hall (church on the left), ignore the^first right turn, which leads to an underpass, and take the^second right, Rue de la Libération. Immediately turn left onto Place du Pas de Saint-Cloud.

Red and white markings

(1) At the crossroads (Place Silly), turn left. Walk past the Chapel of Marie-Antoinette (information panel) on your right, then continue straight ahead along Rue des Écoles. At Place de Lessay (car park on the right), continue straight ahead along Allée des Lilas towards Parc de Saint-Cloud. Go through the gate, enter the park and continue straight ahead along a shaded path. At the end, climb a flight of wooden steps on the right.

No signposts

Then turn left, go past a rotunda and walk along a path lined with beautiful rose bushes. Go up a staircase on the right. At the top, turn left. Go up another flight of steps on the right to reach a viewpoint.

(2) With your back to the view of Paris and the Seine, follow a large path westwards and, after a few metres, go through a wooden gate on the right to enter the Jardin du Trocadéro (see a winter alternative in the practical information section). At the fork that appears immediately, take the path on the right. At the next junction, turn left and cross a ditch.

Red and white markings

At the crossroads, take the^first path on the left and rejoin the^GR®®1. Walk along a small lake on your left. At the fork located at a rotunda (with numerous benches), turn right. At the next crossroads, go straight ahead. Ignore a path coming from the right and, at a fork (not shown on the map), turn left. Cross a ditch and, at the T-junction, turn right to leave the Jardin du Trocadéro. Then turn right, go through a gate, note the ponds below on the left and follow a wide path to a forest barrier. Then turn sharply left towards the ponds.

No markings

(3) Go around the roundabout on the right, pass by the foot of the statue of Neptune and cross a lawn. Shortly before the statue of Jupiter, take the path on the right that goes up the lawn. You will come to the Bassin de la Grande Gerbe and go around it on the left. Pass in front of a restaurant, then turn left (due south) onto a shaded path along a lawn. N.B. The lawn is bordered by two paths; take the second path after the restaurant, with the lawn on your left. Pass a metal gate on your right.

Yellow markings

(4) At the next intersection (small marker post), turn right and walk along the fence of a reservoir. At the end of the fence, turn left onto a path that leads into the woods. After a winding route, you will come out onto the Allée (tarmac road) de la Grande Gerbe and follow it to the left. At the roundabout, leave the yellow markings for a moment and turn right (due west) onto a path parallel to Allée de la Lanterne: this path is the^second tarmac road on the right and leads to the park entrance gate.

Go through the gatehouse and then the gate, rejoin the markings and cross (with caution) the D985 road. Continue on the path opposite and go through a small gate to re-enter the park. Go straight ahead, walking along a lawn on your right. Pass a large stone basin on your right (in August 2019, the basin had been removed and only the base remained) and climb a steep slope through the undergrowth.

(5) At the top, at a T-junction, follow a track on the left that was once tarmac (you can still see traces of it). Stay on this main track and ignore the paths branching off to the right. At a crossroads, turn left onto a path leading downhill. At the next crossroads, turn left. Join a road and turn left to leave the park. Follow the road (Rue de la Porte Blanche) straight ahead to the church and town hall of Marnes-la-Coquette.

Yellow + red and white markings

(6) Continue straight ahead (west) and follow the^GR®®1along Rue Schlumberger. At the traffic lights, turn right onto the D407 (Rue Yves Cariou) towards Garches. Follow this road on the left-hand pavement, turn left and walk between two property walls. In a right-hand bend and before the Marnes-la-Coquette exit sign, leave the road and turn sharply left onto a wide path.

Yellow markings

(7) After about 30 metres, turn sharply right and follow a wide bridle path slightly downhill. Go straight ahead at two successive crossroads. Take the tunnel under the A13 motorway, turn left at the exit and follow a path flanked by the motorway above on the left and a railway line below on the right.

(8) Before an uphill section, leave the path, climb a staircase on the right and continue along a narrow path. At the end, turn left. Then take the first right, Avenue des Vallées. At the end, climb a staircase. At the top, follow a street on the right (Avenue des Terrasses) and descend.

Yellow + red and white markings

At the traffic lights, cross Boulevard de Jardy (D182) at the pedestrian crossing on the right-hand side. Turn left and immediately go down a staircase on the right. Continue along a street, cross Rue René Garrel on the right-hand side and arrive at Vaucresson station.

(9) Then turn right. Cross Boulevard de la République at the pedestrian crossing, then first turn left then right to take a small street. At the crossroads immediately ahead, turn left into Rue des Fonds Huguenots. Walk briefly along the railway line on your left. At the next crossroads, follow Sente du Bois des Dames to the left until you reach a perpendicular avenue (route D173).

No signposts

Cross the avenue (take care) and take the path opposite, which leads discreetly into the undergrowth.

Red and white markings

At the next crossroads, rejoin the^GR®®1, follow it to the right and cross over the railway line. Shortly before a forest barrier, take a path on the left. Then turn right to reach the Pavillon du Butard (former hunting lodge).

(10) After the lodge, turn left and go down a stony path. At the various intersections with narrower paths, always go straight ahead (north-west). The path narrows and heads north-north-west. You will come to a crossroads.

Red and yellow markings

(11) Two paths lead off opposite: take the path on the right with the^GRP®® Ceinture Verte d'Ile-de-France (leave the^GR®®1to follow the path on the left). Further on, cross a clearing (large oak tree felled in August 2019) and continue straight ahead on the path. At the next crossroads, go straight ahead. Ignore a vague path on the left and, at a fork, take the path on the right (east-north-east). At the next crossroads, go straight ahead. You will come to a street; follow it to the left for about 20 metres.

(12) Follow an avenue to the right (Avenue de la Pompadour on the map). At the stop sign, turn left onto Avenue Auguste Ducreux. Opposite the cemetery entrance gate, turn left onto a downhill path. At the bottom, turn right. Then turn left and go down another path. At the bottom, turn right at a sharp angle onto Avenue Yves Levallois. Cross Rue de Vindé on the left and you will arrive at Place de l'Église de La Celle Saint-Cloud.

(13) Turn left and follow Rue de la République, ignoring the roads on the right. At the traffic lights, cross the avenue (D174) and follow Allée Saint-Michel (the leftmost street) opposite. At the end, on the border between the municipalities of Bougival (on the right) and La Celle Saint-Cloud (on the left), cross a wide avenue (D321) at the pedestrian crossing on the right-hand side. Turn left and follow the avenue. At the traffic lights, continue straight ahead for about 50 metres.

Then turn right onto a tarmac driveway. Next, climb a flight of steps. At the top, continue along the street and ignore two turnings on the right. At the next junction, cross diagonally to the left across a square (with a central kiosk) to reach Bougival station (E).

To return home:
- Transilien - Line L, towards La Défense and Paris Saint-Lazare (immediate access) or Saint-Nom-la-Bretèche (take the underground passage).

Train timetables: consult the Transilien website.

Hiking boots recommended.

No water sources identified along the route.
Bars and restaurants: in Saint-Cloud near (1); in Saint-Cloud Park, near the Bassin de la Grande Gerbe; in Marnes-la-Coquette (6); near Vaucresson station (9); Place de l'Église in La Celle-Saint-Cloud; near Bougival station (E).

Saint-Cloud Park opening hours:
- Opens: 7:30 a.m.
- Closing: November-February, 8:00 p.m.; March-April and September-October, 9:00 p.m.; May-August, 10:00 p.m.

Alternative starting points:

From the Parc de Saint-Cloud tram station (line T2) - Take exit 2 Rue Vauguyon (on the platform in the direction of Porte de Versailles - Pont de Bezons). Turn left, walk past the bus station, climb the stairs mentioned between points (S) and (1) and follow the main route.
N.B. When exiting the Boulogne-Pont de Saint-Cloud metro station, you can reach the tram station by bus: lines 52, 72, 126 or 175 (the station is located a few dozen metres after the metro exit).

From Saint-Cloud station (Transilien lines L and U) - Take the Rue Dailly/Hôpital exit. At the bottom of the escalator, take the underground passage. Then cross Rue Dailly at the pedestrian crossing, go down Rue Charles Lauer opposite between the two hospital buildings and you will quickly reach the crossroads (1), where you should turn left to follow the main route.

Winter alternative to the Jardin du Trocadéro:
In winter, the Trocadéro Gardens may be closed to the public. In this case, at point (2), follow the large path bordering the gardens to the east to reach the Bassin des 24 Jets (3).

A detailed map is required (at least the one accompanying this description). To follow the route using the Visorando app, download the IGN and OSM maps.

Hike completed by the author on 31 August 2019.

Between (1) and (6), in Saint-Cloud Park:
- French-style gardens, pretty flower beds.
- Superb panorama of the Val de Seine and Paris from the Château Terrace.
- English garden at the Trocadéro.
- Ponds and fountains, prettier when they are working, i.e. "in the summer" according to the official website, without further details...
- Numerous statues inspired by Greek and Roman mythology.

Between (6) and (9), from Marnes-la-Coquette to Vaucresson:
- Church of Marnes-la-Coquette (1860).
- Monument in honour of Louis Pasteur, in a square opposite the town hall of Marnes-la-Coquette, the town where he lived and died.
- Pretty, large residences.

Between (9) and (E), from Vaucresson to Bougival:
- Pavillon du Butard (1754).
- Charming shaded square in front of the church in La Celle Saint-Cloud.
- Saint-Pierre and Saint-Paul Church in La Celle Saint-Cloud (17th century).