Lacs du Bois de Boulogne walks

A walk through Paris exploring the Left Bank and its quartiers.

A short walk to relax and get away from it all. First, take the old Petite Ceinture railway line, which runs high above the city. Then stroll through Parc Georges Brassens, which offers a variety of paths and places to stop and rest. Finally, you pass through the 14th arrondissement and follow the Petite Ceinture line to the Porte d'Orléans.

The route mainly follows the Seine towpath, close to the river, and should not be attempted during periods of high water. Many houseboats are permanently moored along the route, which ends at the foot of the impressive towers of La Défense. Do not undertake this trip when the Seine is in flood.

Although highly urbanised, western Paris offers a considerable density of green spaces and forests, which this series of 21 hikes, from station to station or in a loop starting from a station, invites you to (re)discover. No fewer than five forest areas are on the programme: Saint-Cloud, La Celle, Marly, Les Tailles d'Herbelaye and Saint-Germain-en-Laye. There is also a rich heritage to discover, particularly in the parks of Saint-Cloud and Marly, in Marnes-la-Coquette, Chambourcy and Poissy.

This hike first takes us up the hill of Saint-Cloud, then through the park of the same name with its gardens, flower beds, ponds and Greco-Roman-inspired statues. We then walk through a residential area with beautiful houses. After crossing the Bois de La Celle, we walk through the "village" of La Celle Saint-Cloud to reach Bougival station.

We start by exploring Billancourt's industrial past on the former Renault factory sites, with a detour to the Ile Seguin. We then continue on to the Ile Saint-Germain, with its residential area and large green park. We end with a tribute to French cinema. This is an urban itinerary, but numerous parks and gardens, as well as many passageways, alleys and even footpaths, allow you to avoid the inconveniences of traffic.

A hike that starts on the banks of the Seine and then crosses the Parc de Saint-Cloud, passing by its main lakes. You then stroll through Marnes-la-Coquette and Ville-d'Avray at the foot of beautiful, large houses. After winding your way between the Étangs de Ville-d'Avray, you walk through the southern part of the Forêt de Fausses-Reposes. The hike ends in a residential neighbourhood of Versailles.

A route through two wooded areas on either side of the Seine. From one large waterfall to another, from one racecourse to another, the hike alternates between paths and urban passages, flower beds and sculpted heritage, ponds and lakes.

This urban but relatively open route allows you to discover the main monuments of Paris on foot. You will see the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre and Notre-Dame Cathedral, among others. The start and finish points are accessible by underground.

Set off on a pleasant bike ride in the heart of the Hauts-de-Seine, combining contemporary art, greenery and local culture. This approximately 6-kilometre route connects the modernity of the Seine Musicale in Boulogne-Billancourt with the originality of the Playing Card Museum in Issy-les-Moulineaux, passing by the unusual Tour aux Figures on Île Saint-Germain.