Ile de la Jatte

Starting point and access: Pont de Neuilly metro station.
- Metro - Line 1. Take exit 1 Rue du Château. At the end of the corridor, choose between a normal staircase (on the right) and an escalator (on the left).
- Bus - Lines 43, 73, 93, 157, 158, 174, 176. The bus station is next to metro exit 1.

Yellow markings

(S/E) Walk away from the Seine and the bridge (straight ahead if you took the normal staircase, turning left if you took the escalator). At the roundabout immediately ahead, turn left onto Rue du Château. Ignore two streets on the left until you reach the next roundabout.

No signposts

Then turn left onto Rue Paul Chatrousse. At the traffic lights, turn right onto Rue Ybry. At the end, follow Rue Soyer to the right. Take the^first left, Boulevard de la Saussaye. Continue straight ahead until the next traffic lights.

Yellow signage

Then follow Boulevard d'Argençon on the left along a section of pavement that is conveniently closed to bicycles and other scooters. At the end, cross Boulevard du Général Leclerc (pedestrian crossing on the left). On the other side, first turn left then right to climb an access ramp to a footbridge. Take this footbridge to cross the small arm of the Seine.

No signposts

(1) At the end of the footbridge, turn left. Walk past several tennis courts and a small garden to reach the kiosk called Temple d'amour. Retrace your steps back to the footbridge.

Yellow markings

(1) Continue straight ahead and walk past the sports fields on your left. Leave the sports complex through a gate.

No markings

Then follow Boulevard du Parc to the left. After a right turn, continue along Boulevard Paul-Émile Victor and walk along the Seine on the left below. Go straight ahead on a slight incline to the Courbevoie Bridge.

(2) Here, there are two options:
- Take the pedestrian underpass on the left (option marked on the map and signposted on site).
- Cross Boulevard Bineau at the traffic lights, stopping several times.

N.B. In the event of flooding of the Seine, the following section may be closed. See an alternative route in the practical information section.

No markings

Go down to the left to reach the banks of the Seine. Follow the path lined with street lamps, pass at the foot of the buildings and then at the bottom of Square Alfred Sisley. Continue at the foot of the buildings. At the end of the path, climb the stairs on the right that lead to a car park.

(3) Then turn left onto a dirt path, keeping to the right of a metal railing. At the end, continue straight ahead on a cement path at the foot of the buildings on the right-hand side. At the end, go through a gate to enter the Parc de l'Ile de la Jatte.

N.B. In the event of flooding of the Seine, the following section may be closed. See the practical information for an alternative route.

Ignore a turn-off on the right and continue straight ahead on the path closest to the Seine. This will take you to Pont de Levallois.

(4) Go under the bridge to reach the northern tip of the island. Retrace your steps and go under the bridge again.

Yellow markings

(4) Climb the bridge that rises to the height of the bridge (on the left when returning from the northern tip). At the top, turn right and cross the small arm of the Seine. At the traffic lights, follow the D1 to the right towards Boulogne-Billancourt, and descend along a railing.

No markings

After the railing, at numbers 31 and 33, go down the stairs on the right that lead to the towpath. At the bottom, turn left and follow the cement towpath. Go under a footbridge and continue straight ahead. At the end, go up to the left to rejoin the road.

(5) Follow the road to the right, go past the traffic lights and continue straight ahead along the D1 to the next bridge. Then turn right and cross the small branch of the Seine again. On the other side, cross Boulevard Georges Seurat at the traffic lights, then immediately turn left onto Boulevard Bineau. Then turn right and follow the boulevard. Cross Avenue Paul-Émile Victor, which you already took on the way there.

Yellow markings

(2) Continue straight ahead and cross the Seine. At the end of the bridge, turn left. After about 40 metres, turn left again, go through a gate and down a ramp to the riverbank. At the landing at the foot of the bridge, make a sharp right turn (do not go under the bridge) and go down to the riverbank.

Walk along the Seine on your left, continue straight ahead and ignore a large staircase on your right. At the end of a wide concrete path, take a pontoon and leave the sailing club building on your right. Then turn right, go through a chicane and you will come out onto Quai du Président Paul Doumer. Find the pedestrian crossing on your left and cross the quay in several stages.

Follow the signs for "La Défense"

(6) Walk away from the Seine and follow Rue Ficatier towards La Défense. At the crossroads (Espace Pompidou opposite), turn left into Rue de l'Industrie. At the next crossroads, continue straight ahead into Rue Arletty. As you approach No. 3, leave the street on the right and go under a porch. Cross a paved alley, climb a flight of steps, then climb the stairs (you can take the lift; press the button for the top floor). At the top, take the footbridge over Rue du Général Audran.

(7) Continue roughly opposite towards the Axe de La Défense and the metro. Cross Place des Saisons diagonally to the left and pass a pharmacy on your left. Walk under a large porch at the foot of the Tour First (First as in the tallest).

Yellow markings

At the end, turn left onto a footbridge towards the Pont de Neuilly. At the end of the footbridge, turn left and take the Pont de Neuilly over the Seine.

(8) In the middle of the bridge, take an opening in the fence on the left and go down to the right into Square de l'Île du Pont. Walk around the square in an anti-clockwise direction and enjoy the views of the banks of the Seine and the La Défense district. Climb the stairs again to return to the bridge.

(8) Continue along the bridge to the left towards Neuilly. At the end of the bridge, continue along Avenue du Général de Gaulle. Cross Rue Blaise Pascal and, at the next pedestrian crossing, cross Avenue Charles de Gaulle. Then turn left and cross the bus station parallel to Avenue Charles de Gaulle, until you reach the Pont de Neuilly metro station (S/E).

To return home:
- Metro - Line 1, towards La Défense-Grande Arche (connection with Tram T2, Transiliens L and U, and RER A) or Château de Vincennes.

Good trainers are sufficient for this mainly urban route.

There are a few bars and restaurants along the route.

A detailed map is required (at least the one accompanying this description).

Public park opening hours:
Parc de l'Ile de la Jatte
- November to March: 7:00 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.
- April to October: 7:00 a.m. to 9:30 p.m.
Parc de l'Ile du Pont de Neuilly
- November to March: 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
- April to October: 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.

Alternatives in case of flooding of the Seine:
After the^first crossing at Pont de Courbevoie (2) - Follow Boulevard Vital Bouthot (yellow markings). Just after entering Levallois-Perret, turn left into a car park. Join the main route at the point (3).
In the Parc de l'Ile de la Jatte - Shortly after entering, at the^first intersection, take the path on the right. At the next intersection, turn left and cross the tip of the island at its highest point. This will take you to the Pont de Levallois (4).
After the^second crossing at the Pont de Courbevoie (2) - At the end of the bridge, follow the Quai Paul Doumer to the point (6) (heavy traffic).

Hike completed by the author on 14 March 2020.

- Pleasant walks along the Seine.
- Numerous houseboats moored on the quays.
- Kiosque d'Amour, after (1).
- La Défense towers between (7) and (8).