Église Sainte-Anne de Gassicourt (Mantes-la-Jolie) 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.

On this walk from station to station, you’ll stroll through the countryside, passing through small woods and hamlets. You’ll enjoy some lovely views as well as heritage sites.

Follow in the footsteps of Claude Monet, considered one of the founders of Impressionism, on a hike from station to station along the Seine and its hillsides. Beautiful views punctuate the route. Halfway along the route, there are several possible visits in Giverny, where the painter lived and worked from 1883 until his death in 1926. At the end of the hike, the collegiate church of Vernon is worth a detour.

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.

A long hike from station to station that veers away from the Seine Valley (which is not particularly suitable for hiking in this area) and climbs to higher ground. The route alternates between wooded sections and stretches through fields with sweeping views. There is a wealth of heritage to discover, with two beautiful Romanesque churches in the first part and, towards the end and as a grand finale, the Gothic Collegiate Church of Mantes-la-Jolie.

The walk begins with a very varied section of the GRP® "la Seine impressionniste", starting with the imposing ESA Ariane rocket factory and its loading dock, a charming marina, the Île de loisir du Val de Seine, and several very large ponds. It continues through Triel-sur-Seine, with its pleasant Parc Senet and the architecturally intricate St Martin’s Church. The walk through the Bois d’Hautil along easy yet unspoilt paths is well worth the detour for its chestnut forests dotted with a few fine oaks, and punctuated by a large number of sinkholes resulting from the collapse of underground quarries. And we finish off gently, admiring the confluence of the Oise and the Seine. ⚠️ User comment on 18 May 2026:>Please note: at point 8, the path is closed in both directions due to reported risks of collapse; instead, take the GR®2 further down to cross from east to west

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 long hike from station to station, alternating between the banks of the Seine, forests, fields, towns and villages, offering numerous views of the Seine and the French Vexin. The route, dotted with historical landmarks, also serves as a reminder that heavy fighting took place in the region in August 1944.

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.

On this walk from station to station, you’ll follow the Mauldre river through the countryside, passing through several villages to discover some heritage sights.