From Porte Maillot to Saint-Nom-la-Bretèche following the GR®1

The route starts at Porte Maillot opposite the Palais des Congrès. Accessible by metro (line 1), RER (line C) or bus (lines 73, 82, PC, 244, 274).

(S) From Porte Maillot, head towards the Bois de Boulogne, crossing over the ring road. You’ll reach the junction of Rue Joseph et Marie Hackin and Route de la Porte des Sablons at Porte Maillot.

Continue straight on along the latter and follow the^GR® (red and white markings) which runs alongside the road. Then cross an exit slip road to rejoin the^GR® on the opposite side, which heads due south after a slight bend, before entering the Bois de Boulogne. At the next junction, turn right and then continue straight on at the following one. At the third junction, take the path that runs alongside a stream.

At each junction, stay on the path running alongside this stream until the next road (Route de la Porte Dauphine to Porte des Sablons). The path then crosses the stream and turns left before reaching a traffic light. Cross the road to rejoin the^GR® opposite^.

(1) Immediately after the road, you’ll reach a junction; take the^GR® opposite, which runs along the right bank of the stream you’ve just crossed. Cross the stream a second time and, at this junction, take the path opposite to continue on the^GR® along the left bank of the stream. Continue straight on at every junction until the next road. When you reach the road, follow it to the left for a few metres.

(2) Join the^GR® on the right. Immediately afterwards, continue straight on along the^GR® and then, at the second junction, turn right to cross the stream again. Just after this, there is a junction: turn left to cross the stream once more. You will then reach a road.

(3) Cross the road and continue straight ahead on the^GR®, keeping to the right at every junction until you cross the road again, then follow the stream. At the fork just beyond this road, turn left.

(4) From here to the next road, stay on the path running alongside the stream. When you reach the Route des Lacs in Bagatelle, continue straight ahead. At the next fork, turn right to cross over a drainage channel. Just after another small bridge, keep left to continue following the stream downstream. You will then reach the Allée de la Reine Marguerite.

(5) Cross the road to rejoin the^GR® opposite, which continues to follow the same stream. At the next junction, turn left to cross the stream. Continue straight on until you reach Route de Suresnes: take the^GR® opposite, then keep right at the next junction. Turn right again at the following junction to rejoin Route de Suresnes.

(6) At the junction with the Route de la Grande Cascade, continue straight on along the^GR® which runs along the right bank of the road before passing close to a lake. Keep right at the next fork to pass under the Bois de Boulogne waterfall. Then keep right at every junction, coming out onto the Route de la Vierge aux Berceaux and following it to the right until you reach a car park.

(7) Turn left and enter the woods again, following the Allée de l’Espérance. Further on, cross the Avenue de l’Hippodrome and follow it to the right.

(8) At the traffic lights, cross the Route de Sèvres à Neuilly and then a cycle path (be extremely careful, as cyclists ride in groups at high speed; here, they always come from the right). Then walk on the left-hand side of the famous Longchamp Racecourse and its windmill.

(9) After the mill, cross the cycle path again (be extremely careful; here, cyclists always come from the left). Then cross two avenues in succession and turn left to walk alongside the Étang de Suresnes on your right. Keep to the right at the next junction, then turn left after a few dozen metres to join a road. Cross this road and follow a narrow lane to the banks of the Seine.

(10) Follow the towpath to the left. Walk along the Seine on your right until you reach the Passerelle de l’Avre.

(11) Take the footbridge to cross the river, then go over the streets and the tram line. As you leave the footbridge, follow Avenue du Maréchal de Lattre de Tassigny to the left and, at the roundabout immediately ahead, turn left. Walk alongside the tram line below on the left.

(12) At the bridge near Les Millons station, turn right and head uphill. Ignore Rue du Béarn on the left. Just before a junction, climb the steps on the right near an underground car park. Go round a small building on the right.

(13) Cross Rue Dailly at the traffic lights (on the right, access to Saint-Cloud station). Take Rue Gaston Latouche opposite, slightly to the right. Go straight on, cross Place de Silly and continue along Rue des Écoles. Pass a car park on the right and follow Allée des Lilas to the entrance to Parc de Saint-Cloud.

(14) Enter the park and follow a tree-lined path for about 200 m. Take the first path on the right, which is just after a flight of steps. Then turn left immediately, then left again at the next two junctions. At the following two crossroads, continue straight ahead until you reach a path. Follow it to the right, then take the first path on the left to enter the Jardin du Trocadéro.

Continue straight on at the next two junctions, then turn right at the third. At the next two crossroads, go straight on. Turn right at the final junction and leave the Trocadéro Gardens. Join a path and follow it to the right. At the end, turn sharply left, quickly coming out onto a road; follow it to the left (watch out for traffic) alongside the Bassin des 24 Jets.

(15) Before a gate, take a path on the right and cross a flowerbed at the edge of the fountains. On the other side, go down a flight of steps on the right above a small fountain. Ignore the first path on the right and take the second one. You will then come to an open space; go round it on the right.

Ignore the next two paths on the right and take the third, which leads to a junction near the Fer à Cheval, a steeply sloping grassy area. Walk along the right-hand side of this area and climb steeply up the GR^®. At the top, continue on the^GR® by taking a path that leads to the Rond de la Balustrade with its remarkable view to the left over the Seine, Boulogne-Billancourt and Paris.

(16) Head due west, turning 90° onto the^GR®, then ignore the first two paths on the left and take the third onto the Allée de la Lanterne. Leave this path after 100 m to take the first path on the left. Turn immediately right at the first junction. Continue straight on at the next three junctions, then turn left at the fourth to join the Allée de la Broussaille and follow it to the right. Then head towards the Rond de Chasse.

(17) Take the third path on the right (Allée de Chamillard) heading north-west. Then cross a main road. Take the fourth path on the left, heading north-west. Continue straight on at the first junction, then, at the second crossroads with tracks, follow the one veering furthest to the left. Stay on this track until you reach the third path coming from the right, just before a more open area.

(18) Follow it, then at each junction, continue straight on until the next track, which you should follow to the left for a few metres before turning onto the first path on the right. Continue straight on at the next junction and arrive at the Porte Blanche: then follow the lane leading off to the left, crossing the pretty neighbourhood of Marnes-la-Coquette.

(19) At the junction by the church, keep right onto the D407 towards Garches. At the next junction, turn right to stay on the D407. Count two bends, then at the second, turn sharply left onto the^{GR® path} which runs alongside a private property. Then make a 90° turn towards the west. Continue straight on at the next six junctions until you reach the golf course fence. From here, follow the fence until you reach the bridge over the D182.

(20) Cross the A13 via this bridge, then take the first street on the right (Avenue du Bois). Turn left at the first junction onto Avenue des Terrasses. Stay on this avenue until it ends and continue straight on up a flight of steps leading to Rue Allouard. Stay on this street until you reach the railway station.

(21) From the station, head right towards the main road. Cross it and take Rue Émile Testu opposite. At the first junction, turn left. Turn right then take the first path on the left (Sentier du Bois des Dames). At the end, turn left onto Avenue des Puits.

(22) Then take the first track on the right. Continue straight on at the first two junctions, then turn left at the third before turning right to pass in front of the Pavillon du Butard. Just after the pavilion, take the first track on the left. Continue straight on at the first four junctions, then turn left at the fifth. Continue straight on at the sixth and final junction to reach Avenue Charles de Gaulle: cross it and head straight on along Avenue Gustave Mesureur.

(23) At the end of the avenue, cross Avenue Jean Moulin to take Avenue Paul Lecolier opposite. After a few metres, take the first path on the right (Sentier des Brangeres). At the end of the path, continue straight ahead along a narrow lane before turning left at the end. Take the first path on the right and go under the railway line. Immediately after the railway line, keep left onto Grand Rue then turn immediately right to stay on this road. At the next junction, keep right onto this road.

(24) At the end of the street, continue straight ahead along a track and enter the Marly-le-Roi Forest. At the first junction, turn right. Then continue straight on at the next junction and keep left at the following one, following the fitness trail. Then leave the fitness trail, which heads off to the right, and turn left onto a track. At the end of the track, turn right onto a road and follow it to the end. At the end of the road, turn left. The street ends at the N186.

(25) Follow it to the left for a short distance before turning right onto a forest track running alongside a water treatment plant. Count two bends, then, at the second one, turn right onto the GR^®. At the first junction, take the path heading north-west. At the next crossroads, continue straight on, then turn left at the following one to reach the summit of Tapis Vert (beautiful view over Marly Park).

(26) Leave Tapis Vert on your right and join a forest road; follow this to the right for about 100 m before taking the^GR® to the left. Just before reaching another forest road, turn right onto the^GR® and continue straight on at the next three junctions. At the fourth junction, turn left. Continue straight on again at the next one and, at the end of the path, turn left onto the Allée de Saint-Denis.

(27) Pass through a gate, leave Marly Park, ignore a path on the right and continue straight ahead. At the bend, continue straight ahead. Cross the D7 and continue along the path opposite. Ignore the first path on the left which leads back to the road, then, at the next junction, continue straight ahead to begin a descent.

(28) Turn left at the junction, then immediately left again. Continue straight on at every junction until you reach the next road (D161).

(29) Cross the road and continue straight on along the GR^®. Carry on straight ahead at the next five junctions along a path that alternates between ascents and descents.

(30) At the^6th junction, turn right onto the^GR®. Continue straight on at every junction until you reach the road (Route Royale). Follow it to the right for a few metres, then take the first path on the right. Continue straight on at every fork until you reach the next road, which you must cross to rejoin the^GR® on the opposite side^. At the next fork, continue straight on.

(31) At the second junction, turn right onto the^GR® access path to Saint-Nom-la-Bretèche station. Head downhill and, at the various junctions, go straight on. At the junction by the Fontaine de la Maison Rouge, turn right towards the station. Keep right at the junction with another path and you’ll come out onto a road. Follow this road to the left, cross the bridge over the railway line and head down to the left to the station (E).

Check the timetables for crossing the Parc de Marly before setting off on this walk

Return from Saint-Nom-la-Bretèche station (E): Line L towards Paris-Saint-Lazare.

Option to split the walk into two: return to Paris-Saint-Lazare possible from stations on line L: Saint-Cloud and Vaucresson along the route, La Celle-Saint-Cloud, Bougival, Marly-le-Roi and L'Étang-la-Ville nearby.

Plenty of places to get refreshments along the way (Saint-Cloud, Vaucresson, Marnes-la-Coquette)

Places to see:
- The Bois de Boulogne, its ponds and waterfall
- The Church of Saint-Cloud
- Saint-Cloud Park
- Sainte-Eugénie Parish Church in Marnes-la-Coquette (19)
- Marly Forest (19 to (E))
- Maison Rouge fountain (just before (E))