Saint-Cyr-l'École walks

This is the third stage of the GR® 11 Grand Tour of Île-de-France. It continues through the Yvelines, between Saint-Cyr station and Villiers-Neauphle-Pontchartrain station. This stage completes the 'radial' part of the GR® starting from Paris and joins the circular loop that circles the region from Villiers-Saint-Frédéric. The route passes through increasingly large wooded areas as you approach the countryside.

A stroll around the picturesque ponds of the Bièvre springs. Beautiful landscapes full of relief on the ponds, mallards, moorhens, gulls, etc. Silence, perhaps a stag with beautiful antlers and does. The Minière ponds consist of several bodies of water: the Moulin à Renard Pond, the Minière Pond and the Val d'Or Pond. These ponds, nestled in the forest of Versailles, cover a total area of 25 hectares at an average altitude of 110 metres and a maximum depth of 15 metres. The source of the Bièvre is located upstream from the ponds, in the nearby hamlet of Bouviers. After a 32.8-kilometre journey, the Bièvre flows into the Seine in Paris.

This is the upstream section of this series of three walks dedicated to the Bièvre. A very pleasant route along the river and its ponds, in a setting that is mostly bucolic. A walk from station to station, the length of which can be adapted according to conditions or preference.

The Bièvre Valley is undoubtedly one of the best places for hiking in the region. Indeed, in summer it is a succession of ponds and lush green landscapes. This hike takes you through the most interesting part of the valley, featuring a succession of five remarkable ponds. You can then round off your day with a visit to Versailles, adding a touch of history to the route.

The Town of Bois d’Arcy pays particular attention to the management and maintenance of its tree heritage. Thanks to a mapped inventory combined with a profile for each tree, it ensures precise monitoring, enabling high-quality maintenance. Each tree is identified within the town by a marker equipped with a QR code that links directly to this page. This trail invites you to discover the town’s tree heritage via a 6.5 km walking route. A simple, modern and fun way to get to know the nature around us better.

A pleasant walk through the forest and along the Minière ponds.

The Étang de Saint-Quentin, an artificial lake covering an area of approximately 150 hectares, is located in the municipalities of Trappes and Montigny-le-Bretonneux (Pas-du-lac district), within the new town of Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines. It is part of a large leisure and outdoor recreation centre covering a total area of 600 hectares. Various leisure activities can be enjoyed there. It serves as a wintering ground for many migratory birds. More than 230 species of birds inhabit the 90 hectares of the reserve.

A short walk along the streams of the Plaine de Versailles, including the Ru de Gally, which has its source in the castle grounds. The charming village of Rennemoulin boasts a chapel, a wash house and an old bridge, while the Fontaine de Maltoute fountain offers a pleasant, shaded spot to stop for a break. Unacceptable behaviour has been observed; see the warning in the practical information section.

The walk begins in Rennemoulin, following the Ru de Gally to Les Bordes in Villepreux. The route heads back up towards the sports facilities in Villepreux, circles round the rear of Villepreux Castle and joins the Voie Royale, which leads back to Rennemoulin. This short walk offers the chance to admire the landscapes of the Versailles plain from the heights of Villepreux and to explore the village of Rennemoulin.

Hike through the heights of the Versailles National Forest with views of the Étangs de la Geneste and Val d'Or ponds, and don't forget to see the remarkable oak tree of Louis XIV.

A tour of the grounds of the Palace of Versailles, including the Swiss Garden and a visit to the King's Kitchen Garden.

The park of the Palace of Versailles covers 815 hectares in the municipality of Versailles. It is managed by the public institution of the Palace and Estate of Versailles. Apart from the main tourist sites of the Palace, it is occupied by forest and agricultural plots, criss-crossed by large straight paths. It is in this park that the Gally stream, which drains the Grand Canal, originates and flows westwards. The route starts at the Saint Antoine gate, passes behind the palace, and ends with a tour of the Trianon estate, allowing you to return to the Saint Antoine gate. It includes a passage through the palace gardens, which are only accessible free of charge in winter.

A short walk on either side of the Ru de Gally, with beautiful views of the plain and the Palace of Versailles and a rich heritage in the charming village of Rennemoulin.

This walk allows you to discover the towns of Bailly and Noisy-le-Roi, as well as the Domaine de la Tuilerie and the Marly Forest, which form a lush green local environment.

The route starts at the Place du Marché in Bailly and crosses the Versailles plain, following the Ru de Gally for part of the way and passing through the village of Rennemoulin, where you can admire the Chapelle Saint-Nicolas and the wash house.

This route is shared between Bailly and the Plaine de Versailles, which you reach via the footbridge at Bailly. It allows you to explore the Plaine de Versailles, starting by passing through the centre of Bailly.

This short walk allows you to explore the surroundings of Bailly and Roquencourt. If the forest ground is muddy, you can return via the same route you took on the way there. Bailly and Rocquencourt are located in the Versailles plain on the edge of the Forest of Marly. The municipal area of Rocquencourt is relatively small: it is one of the smallest municipalities in the Yvelines department.

The Forest of Marly covers 2,000 hectares about twenty kilometres west of Paris, between Saint-Germain-en-Laye and Versailles. It stretches 12 km from east to west and connects to the Forest of Saint-Germain-en-Laye via the Plaine de la Jonction. It is a former hunting ground of the kings of France. The hike includes a route through this forest starting from Bailly.

A short walk to explore the narrow lanes of the La Bretonnière neighbourhood in Voisins-le-Bretonneux and its surroundings. It is perfectly suited to the lockdown period: the route takes an hour and stays within a 1 km radius of the Quarante Arpents school complex, located in the heart of the neighbourhood. More than three-quarters of the route is along pedestrian paths surrounded by greenery.

Discover the Ile de Loisirs de Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines with its nature reserve, a route with few hills and accessible to all.

A short walk between forest and fields without leaving Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines. It will take you to the "Garde Manger", a shop selling local and short route products.

A short hike to discover the Mérantaise valley, the Croix du Bois, the Mérantais wash house, the village of Magny-les-Hameaux, the Maison des Bonheurs (family of 19th-century painters), the Domaine de Brouëssy, and the stele of Hélène Boucher (early 20th-century aviator).