Heritage walk in Le Raincy

Starting point and access: Le Raincy-Villemonble-Montfermeil station.
- RER - Line E, on the Paris and Chelles-Gournay section.
Take the main exit on the Le Raincy side.

Yellow markings

(S/E) When leaving the station, cross the bus parking lot and then Allée Clémencet, and take Allée de Gagny opposite. Follow this street to the end, which is flat and then uphill with an increasingly steep slope. Cross Allée Victor Hugo, Allée Nicolas Carnot, Allée Chatriant, Avenue Didier, Avenue Charles and Allée de la Fontaine in succession.

(1) At the roundabout, turn left onto Allée de l'Ermitage, continuing uphill. Cross Allée des Coteaux and continue on flat ground (on the left, there are a few views of the eastern suburbs). At the crossroads, continue along Allée de l'Ermitage, passing the Protestant temple on your right, and descend. At the next crossroads, turn slightly left onto Allée Gambetta. Go down a flight of steps and you will come to a roundabout. Cross Avenue de la Résistance, follow it to the right and you will soon reach the church square.

(2) Continue along Avenue de la Résistance and cross Allée de Verdun, Allée Valère-Lefebvre (war memorial on the right) and Allée Gabriel. At the corner of the Town Hall, turn left into Allée Hérold and walk along a square on your right. At the end of the street, turn left. At the traffic lights, turn right onto Allée Valère-Lefèbvre and walk along the right-hand side of Lycée Albert Schweitzer.

(3) At the next traffic lights, turn right onto Boulevard de l'Ouest, keeping the school on your right. At the next crossroads, cross the D117 and continue straight ahead onto Boulevard du Nord. On your left, you will see an Armenian school and then the bell tower of a building on a former estate. At the fork at the corner of No. 18, turn right onto Allée du Village. At the next crossroads, turn left, cross Allée des Acacias on the left, then Allée Maurice on the right, and continue along Allée du Village.

(4) At the roundabout, take the^first left onto Avenue de Livry. At the traffic lights, cross Allée des Bosquets. Ignore the next street on the right. Immediately after, leave the yellow markings for a moment and turn right into the square at Place des Fêtes (see practical information). Cross the square and go around the Saint-Louis Church on the right. Then turn right onto Allée Thiellement and follow the markings. At the next fork, take the left-hand path, still on Allée Thiellement.

(5) At the stop sign, turn right onto Boulevard de l'Est. Go up and ignore two streets on the left. At the crossroads, take the^second left, Allée des Sapins. At the next junction, turn right into Allée du Château d'Eau. Cross Allée de Montfermeil and then Allée de Chelles. At the stop sign, turn right (no sign, Allée du Télégraphe on the map).

(6) At the roundabout, take the^first left onto Boulevard du Midi. At the next traffic lights, continue straight ahead downhill and ignore the side streets on the left.

(1) At the roundabout, turn left down Allée de Gagny. Ignore the yellow arrow indicating a left turn at the first intersection (two different^{PR® routes} intersect here) and follow Allée de Gagny in the opposite direction to the outward journey until you reach the station (S/E).

Train timetables: consult the Transilien website.

Train shoes are sufficient for this entirely urban route. There are several bars, restaurants and shops along the route.

The street names in the commune of Le Raincy are unusual in that there are no streets: there are 74 allées (a word apparently used instead of rue), 6 avenues, 5 villas, 5 boulevards, 4 places and 3 impasses.

The route is clearly marked and well signposted (as of January 2017). A map is still useful (at least the one accompanying this description).

Opening hours of the Place des Fêtes square:
- From 1 November to 28 February: 9:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
- From 1 March to 30 October: 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
If the square is closed, follow the yellow markings: continue along Avenue de Livry, take the first right and walk along the square on your right. Go around Saint-Louis Church on the left (by its chevet) and you will find Allée Thiellement on the other side.

Hike completed by the author on 27 January 2017.

The commune of Le Raincy is closely associated with the Battle of Ourcq, the first episode of the Battle of the Marne in September 1914. At that time, General Maunoury (1847-1923), commander of the 6th Army, had set up his headquarters in the Town Hall. One of the groups of soldiers transported to the front by the famous taxis of the Marne was taken care of in Le Raincy. This connection is commemorated in two places along this route, both located on Avenue de la Résistance: on the war memorial and in the Church of Notre-Dame de l'Assomption, in the first stained-glass window on the left as you enter.

Things to see along the route:
- Beautiful houses, particularly on Allée de Gagny and Allée du Village.
- Notre-Dame de l'Assomption Church (1923), nicknamed "the Sainte Chapelle of reinforced concrete" (2). Outside, there is an impressive bell tower and, on the tympanum, a pietà by Antoine Bourdelle. Inside (open to visitors during the day except during services), abstract blue stained glass windows in the choir and side windows dedicated to the story of Mary.
- Town Hall, after (2).
- Bell tower, Boulevard du Nord, between (3) and (4).
- Saint-Louis Church (18th-19th century), between (4) and (5).