Janvry (Essonne) walks

From the charming village centre of Janvry, a circular route to discover two 17th-century castles. A short hike through cultivated fields and woodland.

A short but pleasant walk through the plains and woods, passing through La Brosse.

A walk following part of the old Aerotrain track, with its many information boards, then a route across fields, almost flat. A GPS or the Visorando app is useful for this walk, which was created in 2014; see reviews

A beautiful deciduous forest. A pleasant walk on dry ground, mostly on wide paths. A very short walk, accessible to all, for a breath of fresh air in the morning or afternoon.

An alternative route to the first section of the Chemin Charles Péguy. It bypasses Limours and instead showcases the Hurepoix region. Discover the beautiful village of Forges-les-Bains and a route through stunning countryside.

A very varied hike, showcasing the best features of the Hurepois, a small natural region in the south-west of the Ile-de-France. It starts with a few villages rich in heritage: churches, a castle, a keep, wash houses, etc. It continues through meadows with numerous horses. The hike ends with a very pleasant walk through the woods.

The first part of the route follows a very quiet local road through horse pastures, then enters the forest along a sandy path where there are old trees, including a hollow one large enough to shelter a person. The surface is ideal if it has rained in the preceding days.

A walk of many faces! On forest tracks interspersed with paths through the city, you follow an old railway line with a tunnel and viaduct, finishing along the course of the river Yvette. A walk to enjoy at any time of year.

A loop in the Chevreuse Valley, with magnificent landscapes, in a wooded and rural setting close to Paris. The first part is a walk through the woods on the plateau overlooking the Yvette Valley. The return journey, parallel to the outward route, is mainly on flat ground. Most of the walk is well shaded and flat, but there are also some fairly steep ascents and descents. The area is very popular with walkers and mountain bikers, but it is well worth a visit.

This hike starts in Gif-sur-Yvette and takes you to the heights of the Saint-Aubin and Vallée Bonnard channels, following the Yvette river and returning via La Mérantaise, passing through the Bois d'Aigrefoin, the Saint-Aubin communal forest and the Coupières basin.

A short hike that combines urban passages, wooded and hilly trails, and a pleasant walk along the Yvette River.

Discover nature between the River Yvette and the Guyonnerie forest. A family walk where pets are welcome.

A mainly urban, relatively short route with a slight elevation gain. A few steep steps lead up to the Bois de la Troche and the rocks of its former sandstone quarry. The walk ends peacefully along the Yvette.

Discover part of the artistic, historical and scientific heritage of Paris-Saclay University: sculptures, frescoes, scientific instruments, archaeological sites, and more. An easy walk on a campus featuring a large botanical park and the neighbouring wooded hillsides.

A varied route around Nozay, a charming village located twenty-four kilometres south-west of Paris. This hike takes you through diverse landscapes: fields, forests, and an equestrian centre. The topography is varied (flat expanses, hilly areas). Beautiful views of the village of Marcoussis.

A very short walk consisting of a circular in the forest and a circular in open terrain. Worth seeing: several remarkable trees (oak, plane trees), wetland vegetation and a small built heritage site on the theme of water.

A loop around the Bois de Montabé, following the edge of an old railway line, a short section across fields and ending on paths and lanes. A walk to get some fresh air in the afternoon.

A varied hike where you gain altitude. First, you climb up to the Saclay plateau and walk along the university campus before gently descending into the Yvette valley through the forest. We climb back up the other bank and cross the Gif-sur-Yvette forest from east to west. After an urban section, we walk between fields before descending back into the forest to Saint-Rémy-lès-Chevreuse.

This rural route will take you to Pecqueuse, where you can admire the town of Limours from the viaduct overlooking it. You will also discover the old aerotrain line, now converted into a greenway discreetly hidden under the canopy.

Whilst awaiting the opening of Metro Line 18, those working on the Saclay plateau in the Corbeville area who use the RER B can choose between two long, steep flights of stairs or a steep path, on either side of the former La Troche quarry. This gave rise to the idea for this circular route – short but challenging – which can be completed as many times as one wishes and thus provides excellent training ground before tackling climbs of varying lengths during the summer.

A hike from station to station, yo-yoing between the Yvette valley and the Saclay plateau, with a few fairly steep hills. After a mostly wooded route with some elevation, you cross Gif-sur-Yvette and then walk along a wetland area framed by two rivers. You climb back up onto the plateau, near the Paris-Saclay University campus. After visiting the old Troche quarry and walking along the edge of the plateau, you descend back into the valley.

A south-north crossing offering a very varied route. Sections through the forest alternate with stretches across fields. Water features are plentiful, with several rivers—the Yvette, the Marette and the Bièvre—and the Étangs de Montbrond set in their lush green surroundings. (Warning) The route is cut off at the point (12) due to works on Metro Line 18 (as of March 2026). A diversion is under consideration. Please refrain from undertaking this hike until further notice.

Circular route through the Saclay plateau, the woods at the edge of the plateau and the Bonnard Marsh.

In a highly urbanised environment, this is a green space where you can relax and enjoy a pleasant walk along the Yvette river and the Bassins de Saulx and Balizy. A hike from station to station with a shorter alternative for motorists.

This circular route offers the charm of the Lozère district with its wooded hillsides and breathtaking views over the Yvette valley. You can also stroll along the water’s edge, on the banks of Lake Lozère or along the Yvette.

This marked route follows as closely as possible the path taken by Charles Péguy in 1912 and then 1913 from his home in Lozère (Palaiseau) to Chartres, via Dourdan. The walking route is 94 kilometres long and is marked with blue and white signposts. The trail was created by the Amitié Charles Péguy association. It received support from the Eure-et-Loir General Council. Visorando was responsible for its first publication on the Internet.

First of the four sections of the Charles Péguy Trail: Palaiseau-Chartres, via Dourdan. It closely follows in the footsteps of the poet Charles Péguy, who made two pilgrimages in 1912 and 1913, each lasting four days there and back.

In addition to introducing you to the Domaines d'Ors nature reserve, this route is of interest because it allows you to discover the old sandstone quarries at the start of the route, which are ideal for fun activities, and the Ruisseau du Fond de la Cure at the end of the route, whose steep gradient and the sound of the torrent give the impression of a mountain trail.

The first part of this walk alternates between woodland and fields. The return journey is through undergrowth, along the former railway line that used to link Saint-Rémy-lès-Chevreuse and Limours.

A hike from station to station where you play leapfrog with the Yvette River! The route is mostly close to the river and crosses a few woods and pretty parks, including the one in the western part of the Paris-Sud University campus.

This magnificent route will allow you to discover the wonders of the Chevreuse Valley, passing through the Domaine de Coubertin, the Meridon Departmental Forest, the Bois du Vossery sandstone quarry, the village of Chevreuse with its shopping streets, its church, the Promenade des Petits Ponts and its medieval castle.

From the RER B station at Saint-Rémy-lès-Chevreuse, visit the 11th-century medieval castle (1030) in Chevreuse and its ramparts, with a view overlooking the Chevreuse Valley. A day of nature, sport, excitement and gastronomy awaits you.

Thirty-third and penultimate stage of the Grand Tour of Île-de-France via the GR®11, almost entirely in the Yvelines department.It starts in Saint-Rémy-lès-Chevreuse and reaches Coignières after climbing up the Yvette valley and crossing the Haute Vallée de Chevreuse Regional Nature Park with its rich natural and architectural heritage, just a stone's throw from Paris and its inner suburbs.

A few kilometres from Paris, this refreshing hike takes you through the village of Leuville-sur-Orge, along a path that runs alongside the Orge river, and to the Carouge basin in Brétigny-sur-Orge.

A varied walk, combining the rich heritage of Bruyères-le-Châtel with an original route along the paths of this commune, and a path through the forest, between the fields or along a vast stretch of water.

The main aim of this walk is to reach La Roche Turpin from a station (RER C). La Roche Turpin is a magnificent natural area consisting of a sandstone plateau and its slopes, covered by a beautiful forest mainly populated by oaks (including some superb specimens), chestnut trees and Scots pines.At the start, you can enjoy the path around the Bassin de Trévoix (Retenue de l'Orge). You then make a pleasant walk through the village of Bruyères-le-Châtel via a dense network of well-maintained footpaths. Next comes the beautiful forest of Bruyères-le-Châtel (although there are long straight stretches due to fences enclosing large areas).

A hike which is mostly in the forest, with lovely sections along the Mérantaise river and the ditches which run down from the Saclay Plateau.

Starting from Le Marais, crossing La Rémarde, the Bois du Marais and L’Orge at Saint-Evroult, to Le Mesnil on the southern hillside, and returning via Sermaise to rejoin the Bois du Marais. A succession of woods, villages and the edges of farmland.

A short walk in a beautiful forest environment, perfect for getting some fresh air in the morning or afternoon. In the heart of the forest, a remarkable tree, the Gros Chêne (Big Oak), lives up to its name.

In the heart of the Hurepoix, a hike to discover the Château de Courson (16th-17th centuries) and the church of Saint-Maurice-Montcouronne (12th-16th centuries). A route through fields and woods, dotted with a few streams.

A hike on both sides of the Rémarde River, between meadows, fields and woods in the Hurepois region. There is a castle on the route and another at the start.

Tour du Rocher de Saulx, a forest home to interesting flora and fauna to discover along the way.

A short walk, urban at the start and finish, which, in between, combines a pleasant stroll along the River Yvette with wooded and undulating paths.

Hike in the Yvette Valley offering beautiful views of the plain with its market gardens and requiring some effort thanks to the steep wooded hillsides covered in particular by the Rocher de Saulx national forest.

A heritage walk in a bucolic setting, in the heart of the Hurepoix. Climb the Butte de Saint-Yon and the Bois des Roches, follow the Orge and Renarde rivers, and discover the charming church of Saint-Yon and the superb church of Saint-Sulpice.

A hike starting from a railway station (with car park for motorists), the destination of which is the superb church of Saint-Sulpice-de-Favières. Along the way, you will walk through fields, meadows and woods, and the route is enhanced by pretty rivers and an old water mill.

A lovely, easy little walk that takes you along the River Orge, through two of Breuillet’s parks and offers several views of a string of ponds along the River Rémarde. A varied route with plenty of shade, easily accessible by RER.

A hike from station to station, along the Orge and its tributary, the Rémarde, as well as the Bassin de Trêvois. A small menhir and a Louis XIII-style castle add a nice touch of heritage.

A hike from station to station, mostly following the Orge river or its secondary branch, the Grande Boële, and along a few large reservoirs. There is a rich heritage to discover, in Arpajon at the start of the hike and, as a highlight, at the Basilica of Longpont.

A walk from station to station that climbs up to the Saclay plateau, offering a striking contrast between the cultivated fields criss-crossed with drainage ditches and the ever-expanding university campus. A varied route with its share of ascents and descents.

A very beautiful and fairly easy walk, stunning all along the Yvette, then a short steep climb on Rue des Bouleaux for 300 m and you’ll find yourself in the Gelles Departmental Forest. Overall, there’s very little walking on the road; it’s all on lovely paths, finishing around Lac de Saulx. You’ll see wild ducks and moorhens along the Yvette and also around the lake, along with swans and a few waders. If you like horses, you’ll also see several stud farms and occasionally riders. This is my Sunday jogging route.

A hike from station to station that alternates between urban and forest passages. From the Yvette valley, we climb up to the Saclay plateau, where the university campus is constantly expanding. At the start of the descent, we visit an old sandstone quarry that has been converted into a climbing school.

A varied route in a peri-urban setting, along rivers and streams and the Bassin de Saulx, and in the heart of the Rocher de Saulx departmental forest. Please note! Work around the Bassin de Saulx means that the route has been changed at the end: follow the suggested alternative route.

This route follows thePR®10and 13 trails and the Promenade de l'Yvette. It has been chosen to avoid as much as possible the busy roads crossing the Basses Roches district in Villebon. Only the crossing over the A10 motorway via the viaduct is unavoidable, but it is short (200 m) and the pavement is wide. The rest of the route is pleasant along the Promenade de l'Yvette, the paths in the plain and around the Étang de Saulx-les-Chartreux.

A mainly forest route with two beautiful heritage sites: at the start, the charming church of Saint-Yon and a Gallo-Roman ruin, and halfway along the route, the superb Gothic church of Saint-Sulpice-de-Favières.

This is a fairly short hike that allows you to discover two rigoles (small water collection channels) on the Saclay Plateau: the Rigole Domaniale and the Rigole de Favreuse. These rigoles were built in the 17th century to supply water to the Palace of Versailles. The route alternates between woods and cultivated fields, with a rich heritage in Vauhallan.

A varied hike through beautiful old quarries, part of the village with its unique footpaths, and numerous wooded areas.

This hike will take you from castle to castle in the Chevreuse Valley: Coubertin, Méridon, Breteuil, Dampierre and La Madeleine. You will also discover Chevreuse, its small bridges and its Saint-Martin Church (with its remarkable ambulatory) and the surrounding countryside. The hike can start from Chevreuse or from the RER B station at Saint-Rémy-les-Chevreuse (departure and return details in italics). In this case, add 2 km to the length of the hike.

A varied route through the woods, fields and meadows of the Hurepoix, with beautiful views of the Château de Baville.

Thirty-second and penultimate stage of the Grand Tour of Île-de-France via the GR®11. It starts in Saint-Chéron in the Orge Valley and ends in Saint-Rémy-lès-Chevreuse in the Yvette Valley, thus completing the crossing of the Essonne via its main valleys. After starting off towards the west, the route heads due north across the Hurepoix plateaus.

A walk from station to station in the Orge Valley, exploring two large ponds home to numerous birds. A picturesque route in the first half, which then sees the proportion of urban sections increase. Heritage sites along the way: a well-restored old mill, a few churches, a small menhir, a wash house...

A circular starting from a railway station, during which you climb and descend through woods and walk along the cultivated plateaus on both sides of the Orge valley, from where you can enjoy extensive views.

Visit the Château de la Madeleine's belvedere, castle and cellars via a trail around the Plaine de la Madeleine. We recommend starting from the "Carrefour de Milon," which is accessible from the beautiful little village of Milon-la-Chapelle.

This hike follows the route of the T12 tram-train, connecting Massy-Palaiseau to Évry-Courcouronnes, and allows you to discover a varied landscape combining urban areas, natural spaces and neighbourhoods undergoing rapid change. The route takes you along the greenway that runs alongside the T12, between Épinay-sur-Orge station and the Évry-Courcouronnes terminus, offering a pleasant and safe section for pedestrians and cyclists. This walk offers an immersion in the areas served by this new line, with opportunities to stop at the various stations to fully enjoy the local heritage and green spaces.

Follow in the footsteps of historian Fustel de Coulanges and discover a city where large housing estates, business districts and detached houses coexist, where wide avenues alternate with urban paths and malls, and where ponds and green spaces are scattered throughout.

Second stage of the Grand Tour of Île-de-France via the GR®11, from Massy to Saint-Cyr l'École, behind Versailles.This stage, more bucolic than the previous one, consists of continuing up the Bièvre river in its valley, where it is almost entirely in the open air. Arriving near its source in Guyancourt, the GR® leaves the valley and continues towards Saint-Cyr-l'École.

In the footsteps of Jean Racine, in places steeped in history. A walk through a variety of environments, between forests, meadows and cultivated fields, with a lovely view of the ancient Abbey of Port-Royal des Champs.

This second section, dedicated to the Bièvre, begins in a still rural setting but quickly moves into a heavily urbanised area. However, the route favours small streets and public parks. It is also here that the river’s course becomes partly underground, reappearing here and there. There are heritage sites, notably the impressive aqueducts at Arcueil and Cachan, and beautiful views of Paris in the ‘upper’ part of the route.

Hike connecting Igny (Essonne) to the Palace of Versailles. The route follows the Bievre, and 80% of the route is on roads through forests. A calm, cool walk with scenery that will leave you with a unique souvenir.

This route is the second of four sections of the Charles Péguy Trail: Lozère (Palaiseau) - Chartres via Dourdan. It follows in the footsteps of the poet Charles Péguy, who celebrated his two pilgrimages (made in 1912 and 1913, each lasting four days there and back) in a poem that remains famous to this day. This is the transition stage: from the valleys and rolling hills of Hurepoix to the Beauce plateau.

A pleasant route offering varied landscapes through the woods and fields of the Hurepoix.

A rural and wooded route in the Hurepois region, with some beautiful views from the Butte de Tous Vents or the heights of Mal Acquis.

A circular route that starts on a cultivated plateau before descending into the Mérantaise valley. Then, mostly in the undergrowth, you play leapfrog with the river.

This third stage of the route serves as a transition between the official end of the green corridor and the Yvette valley. Although it is an exclusively urban route, by taking quiet paths it avoids the busiest parts of the bustling town of Massy.