The Orsay campus and its surroundings

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

Details

1231508
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 6.84 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 2h 15 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Easy

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 108 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 108 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 149 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 57 m

Description of the walk

Depart from Orsay-Ville station (RER line B). Take the "Faculté" exit.

(S/E) Walk down Rue Élisa Desjobert.

(1) At the junction with Rue Jean Teillac, take the sandy path at the intersection in front of you. Walk along the Yvette (on your right).

(2) After 600 metres, cross the road. After about 20 metres, at a fork, take the path on the left. You will find yourself back on the path along the Yvette. At the next junction, the path becomes concrete. Follow the Yvette, pass behind the gymnasium and turn left at the corner.

(3) At the roundabout, continue along Voie de la Faculté, following a branch of the Yvette river on your left. At the end, turn right onto Rue du Docteur Collé and cross the main branch of the Yvette.

(4) Then turn right at the first street between the primary school and the secondary school. At the end, enter the stadium and follow the path that goes around it on the left. On the left-hand side, pass the STAPS building, then a car park. At the corner of the car park, turn left onto Chemin de la Fontaine Saint-Mathieu. At the end, turn right. After about 100 metres, turn left onto a path in the forest.

(5) At the crossroads, go left. At a fork, take the right-hand path, which quickly becomes an uphill climb (potentially difficult). The path then crosses a steep path: continue straight ahead for 100 metres, then follow the next descent on the right. Further on, at a crossroads, continue straight ahead for about 100 metres.

(6) At a fork, turn right. Ignore a path on the right. At the T-junction, follow a clear forest path to the left. Continue along this wide path until you leave the forest, ignoring the paths on either side. You will come to Rue de la Guyonnerie, which runs alongside the campus.

(7) At the crossroads, turn right and re-enter the campus. Go down Rue du Château. Cross Rue Hector Berlioz and continue along a path until you reach the forest. Follow the stairs downhill, leaving buildings 303 and 302 on your left. Leave the campus and cross 'Yvette.

(1) Turn left and walk up Rue Élisa Desjobert. Continue straight ahead until you reach the RER station (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 75 m - Gare d'Orsay-Ville
  2. 1 : km 0.22 - alt. 59 m - Rue Élisa Desjobert x Rue Jean Teillac
  3. 2 : km 0.83 - alt. 60 m - Allée des Découvertes
  4. 3 : km 1.61 - alt. 59 m - Roundabout
  5. 4 : km 2.31 - alt. 63 m - La Guyonnièrie Secondary School
  6. 5 : km 3.56 - alt. 95 m - Turn left at the crossroads.
  7. 6 : km 4.95 - alt. 149 m - Turn right at the fork.
  8. 7 : km 6.12 - alt. 90 m - Turn right at the crossroads.
  9. S/E : km 6.84 - alt. 75 m - Gare d'Orsay-Ville

Notes

It can be done in any season with the appropriate equipment. Take care on sunny days in sunny areas. After heavy rain, the paths may be muddy or even flooded along the riverbanks.

This route crosses the Orsay campus: there may be heavy traffic on the roads you cross. This is a workplace, so please respect the premises.

This walk can be done any day of the week as all pedestrian access points are open at all times.

Reviews and comments

4.4 / 5
Based on 7 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.3 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.6 / 5
Route interest
4.4 / 5
KEKEMAMENOEA
KEKEMAMENOEA

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 27, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

At (4). At the end, turn right and take the path into the forest opposite.
(5) At the fork, the climb is equipped with steps. You have two options: take the steps, which are normally closed at this time, or follow the sign and continue straight ahead. We followed the sign and continued straight ahead.
We continue along this small path that runs alongside Rue de la Guyonnerie, and we find ourselves at point (7).
Distance reduced to 6.21 km
Duration: 2 hours.

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Cadichon
Cadichon

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Dec 17, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

more joggers than hikers, probably due to the winter temperatures this Saturday

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lucienne49
lucienne49

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 25, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A wonderful discovery on campus

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KEKEMAMENOEA
KEKEMAMENOEA

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : May 21, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

All the explanations are accurate and the route is very enjoyable. On the Yvette, we encountered ducks with their ducklings and moorhens.
I would like to thank Marine Gtn.

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ghaisse
ghaisse

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Dec 06, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

Nice hike, but starting from Orsay station is a bad idea if you're coming by car. And parking is paid everywhere in the city.

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Guillaume 75
Guillaume 75

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : May 13, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

A beautiful hike on campus and a pleasant walk in the forest. The start of the route is disrupted by construction work, which makes large sections of the path along the Yvette River inaccessible.

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daboloz
daboloz

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 14, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

All clear, perfect!

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