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Starting point and access: Fontenay-sous-Bois station.
- RER - Line A, on the section between Paris and Boissy-Saint-Léger.
Take exit 2 Boulevard de Vincennes (tail end of the train when coming from Paris, front end of the train in the opposite direction).
(S/E) When you leave the station, turn right and then left to follow Rue Émile Roux. Take the first left, Rue Mallier. At the stop sign, turn left and then walk along the right-hand side of the former Gaveau piano factories. At the corner, turn right into Rue Jean-Jacques Rousseau. Then take the first right, Rue Thérèse, then turn left onto Rue Pauline, cross Rue Yvonne and continue straight ahead (the names of these three streets pay tribute to the daughters of the former director of the Gaveau factories). At the end of Rue Pauline, follow Rue Pasteur to the left.
(1) At the crossroads, turn right again onto Rue Jean-Jacques Rousseau. At the next crossroads, continue straight ahead onto Rue Jules Ferry. At the next crossroads (monumental École Jules Ferry on the left, plaque to "La Madelon" on the corner), continue uphill on Rue Jules Ferry.
After about 50 metres, turn left into Villa de l'Ouest. The lane turns right and ends at a staircase: at the top, turn right onto Rue Gambetta. At the crossroads, continue along Rue Gambetta, slightly to the right. Ignore the street coming from the left and, at the stop sign, continue straight ahead onto Rue Charles Bassée.
(2) After a few metres, turn left onto Chemin des Sources (called Chemin de la Matène on the map; an old plaque on site recalls this former name). The path climbs gently, alternating between short left and right turns. Come out onto Rue Mirabeau, go to the crossroads and turn right at an acute angle onto Rue du Ruisseau. At the crossroads, take the first right, Rue de la Matène.
(3) At the end of the street, enter the Écoparc des Carrières (horseshoe-shaped entrance). After a few metres, turn right and head for the viewpoint (granite sculptures). Take the footbridge and, at the fork that follows, take the left-hand path. At the crossroads (you can turn left for an information panel about the quarries), turn right towards an exit from the park (horseshoe).
Follow Rue Gérard Philippe to the right and go down a flight of steps. At another park entrance, turn left and follow the flat tarmac path on the left. Walk alongside a stadium on your left, take in the view on your right and continue along Rue des Belles Vues (which lives up to its name). Ignore the villa of the same name on your right and continue to a crossroads.
(4) Continue straight ahead, slightly to the right and downhill, onto Rue du Cheval Rû. At the bottom, turn right onto Rue de Rosny and walk past the Church of Saint-Germain on your left. At the corner of the church, turn left onto Rue de Neuilly and, at the foot of the bell tower, turn left again onto Impasse de l'Église. Ignore a small street on the right, cross a small square surrounded by small houses, climb a staircase and enter the Parc de l'Hôtel de Ville.
Continue straight ahead and, at the foot of a second staircase, turn right and leave a large kiosk and then some ponds on your right. At the bridge on the right, climb the stairs on the left.
(5) Wander around the upper part of the park as you please (suggested route): artificial stream, ponds, modern sculptures, beautiful trees, etc.
(5) Climb the paved path that goes around the large pond on the right (it is the first path on the right when you reach the top of the stairs coming from the lower area). Ignore a path on the right and go around the top of the artificial waterfall on the left. Continue, passing a dovecote on your left. At the crossroads immediately ahead, continue straight ahead and pass a ping-pong table. At the end of the path (not shown on the map), take the Allée de l'Hôtel de Ville on the right for a few metres, then turn left onto Rue Jean Douat.
At the crossroads, take the first right, Rue des Émeris. After about 50 metres, turn right into the narrow Rue du Nord (towards the Maison du Citoyen). At the end, first turn right then left and follow Rue du Révérend-Père Aubry. At the corner of the Maison du Citoyen, turn right, staying on the same street. At the end, turn right and, after about 50 metres, turn left onto Rue Molière.
(6) At the end of the street, turn right onto Rue Désiré Richebois. At the next crossroads, turn right again onto Rue de Joinville. Then take the first left onto Rue Mot. Follow this street, ignoring the side streets, cross Place de la Libération and then Rue Notre-Dame.
Then turn left onto Rue Grognard. At the end, first turn right then left to follow Villa Mémoris (private road open to pedestrians). The street turns right and, at the end, turn left onto Rue Pierre Semard. You will come out at Place David Moreau (market) and find yourself at Fontenay-sous-Bois station (entrance 1 on the left, entrance 2 on the right) (S/E).
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