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Starting point and access: Rhin-et-Danube roundabout.
- Metro - Line 10, Boulogne-Pont de Saint-Cloud station (terminus). Take exit 3 Rue du Port - Musée Albert-Khan, at the front of the train, then the stairs on the left.
- Bus - Lines 52, 72, 126, 160, 175, 260, 467; Rhin-et-Danube metro stop.
Most of this route is not signposted. Where signs do exist, they are only mentioned when necessary.
(S) Follow Avenue du Maréchal de Lattre de Tassigny as it continues from the metro stairs, i.e. away from the roundabout. Cross Quai du Quatre Septembre in three stages. On the other side, first turn right then left to take a footbridge with blue railings (do not cross the Seine). Go down a staircase and, at the bottom, turn left to follow a footpath parallel to a small road.
(1) When the road curves to the right, at a large portico on the right-hand side, leave the tarmac and turn left onto a path closer to the river. Follow this path straight ahead, which is mostly dirt but cemented in a few places. It is shaded throughout and lined with houseboats.
(2) When passing under the A13 motorway bridge, watch out for a mooring cable that crosses the path (which is very narrow at this point). Then cross a kind of lawn and return to the undergrowth. Ignore all the paths on the right and continue to the corner of the flood control station, located at the foot of the Passerelle de l'Avre footbridge.
(3) There are two options here:
- As shown on the map, continue along the towpath dominated by a large wall on the right-hand side, from which large pipes emerge. Never use this passage during a flood as the pipes can discharge water at a very high rate; outside of flood season, do not linger. At the foot of the footbridge, climb a very steep staircase on the right, which fortunately has a good handrail.
- Alternatively, at the corner of the wall, you will find a path on the right that winds its way through the undergrowth. Climb up to the Quai du Quatre Septembre and follow it to the left.
In both cases, you will end up at the bottom of the stairs leading to the footbridge.
Then turn right and cross the avenue at the pedestrian crossing (traffic lights). Then first turn left then right to take the Route de la Seine à la Butte Mortemart. Walk alongside the Christophe Dominici rugby stadium and pass through a forest gate. After passing through a second forest gate, turn sharply left and walk along a wide tarmac road, the Route des Tribunes.
(4) Cross this road at the first pedestrian crossing (watch out for cyclists coming from the right; see the recommendations in the practical information section). Then turn left and walk along the fence of the Longchamp racecourse on your right. Continue straight ahead and pass the racecourse's main gate.
(5) Immediately afterwards, cross the Route des Tribunes again at a pedestrian crossing (watch out for cyclists coming from the left; see the recommendations in the practical information section). Then first turn left then right and pass a bus stop. At the traffic lights, turn right onto a discreet path and walk along a river on your right. At a three-way junction, turn left (ignore a small bridge and a red and white marker on the right). Walk along the right-hand side of the Étang de Suresnes lake and continue to its northern tip (just before this, ignore a vague path on the left).
(6) At the crossroads, turn slightly left onto a stabilised path (away from the lake). Cross a small bridge and you will come to a small road. Cross it at the pedestrian crossing, then turn left to cross an avenue at the traffic lights. On the other side, first turn left then right to start on a small tarmac road. Immediately turn right onto a cycle path and then immediately left to leave it. There are two paths: take the one on the left, towards a clearly visible "No fires" sign.
(7) At the T-junction (small gate opposite), follow a discreet path to the left. At the end, at the edge of the road you left earlier, turn sharply right onto another path. Ignore a path on the left and follow the river on your right. At a T-junction (not shown on the map), turn right and follow a fence on your right. At the next T-junction, turn right and take a footbridge over a branch of the river. You will soon come to a crossroads (tree in the middle).
(8) There are two options here:
- For a shorter version, turn left onto a footbridge and continue the route from the second reference point (8).
- As shown on the map, take the first path on the right. At two successive forks, bear right. Walk along a river on your right and note the remains of a stone bridge. Then walk along the Étang de Longchamp. At the next three forks, always choose the path on the right. Pass at the foot of a small tower and return to the previous crossroads with its central tree.
(8) Turn right and take a footbridge. On the other side, follow a path on the right that runs parallel to a road. Walk along a river on your right, then turn right to walk along the Étang de Longchamp. At the end of the lake, turn left. Ignore a path on the right and join a tarmac road. First turn right then left to cross this road in two stages at the pedestrian crossings. Continue to a traffic light and turn right to cross a wide avenue. On the other side, turn left, leave the Grande Cascade on your right and immediately turn right. Shortly afterwards, take a cement path that climbs to the right. Climb several steps and you will arrive at a crossroads.
(9) Turn right, ignore a staircase coming from the right, cross a stream and turn right to reach a point at the top of the Grande Cascade. Retrace your steps (red and white markings).
(9) Continue straight ahead following the red and white markings and descend to the edge of the Lac du Réservoir, the lake that feeds the Grande Cascade. At a crossroads, take the third path on the right, marked red and white (GR®1). Turn left at the junction shortly afterwards. Further on, at a fork, turn left (red and white markings) and cross a tarmac road. Ignore a path coming from the right and cross an artificial river.
(10) Then turn right (red and white markings) and follow the river on your right. Ignore two successive bridges over the river and, at a fork, take the left-hand path, which is higher up. You will come out onto Avenue de la Reine Marguerite. Follow it to the right until you reach a pedestrian crossing. Cross the avenue and, on the other side, take a paved path on the right that is closed to vehicles. At a crossroads, cross the road (be careful, there is no pedestrian crossing here) and continue straight ahead on the paved path. Cross a dirt track and, further on, a dirt track flanked by a sandy bridle path.
(11) Shortly afterwards, turn left onto a dirt track. At a fork, turn left. At the next junction, first turn right then left to continue east-south-east. At the next three junctions, go straight ahead. You will come to a tarmac road, the Chemin de Ceinture du Lac Supérieur, and follow it to the left for about 40 metres. Then go down a staircase on the right to reach the lake shore.
(12) Turn right and stay as close to the lake as possible. Note the kiosk on the left at the southern tip of an island. Climb a flight of steps. At the top, turn left, leaving a small artificial waterfall on your left. Take a footbridge (red and yellow markings) and note the viewpoint over the lake on your left. At a fork, turn left following the red and yellow markings. Walk as close as possible to the lake until you reach the southern tip of the island seen from the opposite shore. Climb a staircase and you will immediately come to a T-junction.
(13) Then turn sharply right (leaving the red and yellow markings to your left). You will soon come to a tarmac road. Follow it to the right for about 30 metres. Then turn left onto a path and, at the intersection shortly after, turn right. At a fork, turn left and leave a small building on your left. When you reach the edge of an avenue, follow it to the left, cross two slip roads leading to the Boulevard Périphérique and walk over the ring road. Cross another slip road and continue straight ahead until you reach the next junction. Then turn right to cross the avenue at the pedestrian crossing. On the other side, turn right again and you will immediately reach the entrance to the Pelouses de l'hippodrome d'Auteuil (signposted "Piscine").
(14) Go through the gate (red and white markings), continue straight ahead and take a tunnel that passes under the racecourse tracks. On the other side, continue along a wide paved path (ignore a cement path on the left). Pass the swimming pool on the right and then a field hockey pitch on the left.
(15) When the stabilised path turns left, leave it and take a path on the right to quickly reach a beautiful viewpoint overlooking the racecourse tracks and stands. Retrace your steps.
(15) Follow the gravel path to the right and cross one of the racecourse tracks (red and white barriers). Then pass between two small ponds. Walk along the edge of another pond on the right-hand side and cross another racecourse track. Continue along the gravel path and go around a football stadium on the right. Then pass a rugby stadium on your right and take a tunnel under the racecourse tracks. On the other side, leave the park through a gate and immediately turn right towards the Porte d'Auteuil underground station (E).
To return home:
- Metro - Line 10. N.B. At this station, all trains go in the direction of Boulogne. To return to central Paris, towards Gare d'Austerlitz, get off at the first station, Boulogne-Jean Jaurès, and take a train in the opposite direction from the same platform opposite.
- Bus - Lines PC1, 32, 52, 123. Cross Avenue de la Porte d'Auteuil to the right, then to the left to reach the bus station.
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