Sainte-Geneviève-des-Bois (Essonne) walks

A hike from station to station that constitutes the last stage of this route along the Orge River, ending at its confluence with the Seine. Although the area is highly urbanised, the walkway along the river, which takes us back and forth across it, often offers a bucolic setting.

A hike that alternates between pleasant paths along the water's edge and urban passages. The Tower of Montlhéry, which offers a beautiful panorama, and the Basilica of Longpont, the destinations of this hike, are beautiful reminders of the Middle Ages in Île-de-France.

This route, which is half urban and half forest, focuses on footpaths. Along the way, you can visit the Russian cemetery (no dogs allowed), see an elephant, cross the Bois des Trous, admire the majestic keep and its flower beds, and be sure to visit the miraculous cave of Sainte Geneviève... An easy walk and a good time guaranteed.

Hike around Epinay sur Orge (a small town south of Paris) from the train station of the RER C.It follows paths and quiet streets, heads through Bois des Templiers and follows the courses of three rivers: the Orge, the Rouillon and the Yvette. A trail through the Bois des Templiers with views of an old stone bridge with three arches of the ancient Templar Commandery of the eleventh century.

Starting from the town hall in Epinay-sur-Orge, this varied hike takes you along the banks of the Orge between Epinay and Longpont, to the 11th-century Basilica of Longpont and the Pont des Templiers de Balizy, the oldest bridge in the Île-de-France region and a remnant of a former 13th-century commandery.

A short, varied and easy hike. Streams, meadows, forests, housing estates and fields, and of course the basilica of Longpont, are the ingredients of this walk just a few kilometres from Paris.

Short hike across the Grange du Breuil plain and the Bois des Templiers woods.

In 1465, Louis XI and Charles the Bold clashed at Montlhéry. This hike takes you to some of the historic sites in Essonne that witnessed this confrontation (Leuville, Montlhéry Castle, the battlefield, etc.). The return route takes you via Longpont Basilica.

A short walk through the Bois des Templiers in Balisy.

Tour du Rocher de Saulx, a forest home to interesting flora and fauna to discover along the way.

A few kilometres from Paris, this refreshing hike takes you through the village of Leuville-sur-Orge, along a path that runs alongside the Orge river, and to the Carouge basin in Brétigny-sur-Orge.

An urban route between Savigny-sur-Orge, Athis-Mons and Juvisy-sur-Orge. After a very urban first half, the second half follows paths between detached houses and buildings, roughly following the course of the River Orge.

A very short walk consisting of a circular in the forest and a circular in open terrain. Worth seeing: several remarkable trees (oak, plane trees), wetland vegetation and a small built heritage site on the theme of water.

A walk that starts in the Port aux Cerises park, with its ponds and Neolithic menhir. You then walk alongside a large lake and cross an urbanised area. The final third of the walk takes place mainly on the towpath along the Seine.

A varied route around Nozay, a charming village located twenty-four kilometres south-west of Paris. This hike takes you through diverse landscapes: fields, forests, and an equestrian centre. The topography is varied (flat expanses, hilly areas). Beautiful views of the village of Marcoussis.

This route follows thePR®10and 13 trails and the Promenade de l'Yvette. It has been chosen to avoid as much as possible the busy roads crossing the Basses Roches district in Villebon. Only the crossing over the A10 motorway via the viaduct is unavoidable, but it is short (200 m) and the pavement is wide. The rest of the route is pleasant along the Promenade de l'Yvette, the paths in the plain and around the Étang de Saulx-les-Chartreux.

A varied route in a peri-urban setting, along rivers and streams and the Bassin de Saulx, and in the heart of the Rocher de Saulx departmental forest. Please note! Work around the Bassin de Saulx means that the route has been changed at the end: follow the suggested alternative route.

A very beautiful and fairly easy walk, stunning all along the Yvette, then a short steep climb on Rue des Bouleaux for 300 m and you’ll find yourself in the Gelles Departmental Forest. Overall, there’s very little walking on the road; it’s all on lovely paths, finishing around Lac de Saulx. You’ll see wild ducks and moorhens along the Yvette and also around the lake, along with swans and a few waders. If you like horses, you’ll also see several stud farms and occasionally riders. This is my Sunday jogging route.

Draveil, the Port aux Cerises, the Château de Draveil (Paris Jardins) and the Château de Villiers (Town Hall) and the footbridges along the Seine with views of the marinas.Reminder: Paris Jardins is private property. Passage is tolerated, but please be discreet and respectful so that the estate remains open to visitors.

An easy hike that alternates between the Forest of Sénart, the banks of the Seine and some beautiful estates such as the Ermitage de Sénart, where Nadar lived, and the Parc du Grand Veneur in Soisy-sur-Seine.Please note the opening hours of the public garden. In addition, the park is closed during storms.

A short walk, urban at the start and finish, which, in between, combines a pleasant stroll along the River Yvette with wooded and undulating paths.

Hike in the Yvette Valley offering beautiful views of the plain with its market gardens and requiring some effort thanks to the steep wooded hillsides covered in particular by the Rocher de Saulx national forest.

A hike from station to station, mostly following the Orge river or its secondary branch, the Grande Boële, and along a few large reservoirs. There is a rich heritage to discover, in Arpajon at the start of the hike and, as a highlight, at the Basilica of Longpont.

A hike from station to station, along the Orge and its tributary, the Rémarde, as well as the Bassin de Trêvois. A small menhir and a Louis XIII-style castle add a nice touch of heritage.

A hike from station to station that alternates between urban and forest passages. From the Yvette valley, we climb up to the Saclay plateau, where the university campus is constantly expanding. At the start of the descent, we visit an old sandstone quarry that has been converted into a climbing school.

A walk from station to station that climbs up to the Saclay plateau, offering a striking contrast between the cultivated fields criss-crossed with drainage ditches and the ever-expanding university campus. A varied route with its share of ascents and descents.

Follow in the footsteps of historian Fustel de Coulanges and discover a city where large housing estates, business districts and detached houses coexist, where wide avenues alternate with urban paths and malls, and where ponds and green spaces are scattered throughout.

This hike follows the route of the T12 tram-train, connecting Massy-Palaiseau to Évry-Courcouronnes, and allows you to discover a varied landscape combining urban areas, natural spaces and neighbourhoods undergoing rapid change. The route takes you along the greenway that runs alongside the T12, between Épinay-sur-Orge station and the Évry-Courcouronnes terminus, offering a pleasant and safe section for pedestrians and cyclists. This walk offers an immersion in the areas served by this new line, with opportunities to stop at the various stations to fully enjoy the local heritage and green spaces.

Second stage of the Grand Tour of Île-de-France via the GR®11, from Massy to Saint-Cyr l'École, behind Versailles.This stage, more bucolic than the previous one, consists of continuing up the Bièvre river in its valley, where it is almost entirely in the open air. Arriving near its source in Guyancourt, the GR® leaves the valley and continues towards Saint-Cyr-l'École.

This third stage of the route serves as a transition between the official end of the green corridor and the Yvette valley. Although it is an exclusively urban route, by taking quiet paths it avoids the busiest parts of the bustling town of Massy.

This marked route follows as closely as possible the path taken by Charles Péguy in 1912 and then 1913 from his home in Lozère (Palaiseau) to Chartres, via Dourdan. The walking route is 94 kilometres long and is marked with blue and white signposts. The trail was created by the Amitié Charles Péguy association. It received support from the Eure-et-Loir General Council. Visorando was responsible for its first publication on the Internet.

First of the four sections of the Charles Péguy Trail: Palaiseau-Chartres, via Dourdan. It closely follows in the footsteps of the poet Charles Péguy, who made two pilgrimages in 1912 and 1913, each lasting four days there and back.

This circular route offers the charm of the Lozère district with its wooded hillsides and breathtaking views over the Yvette valley. You can also stroll along the water’s edge, on the banks of Lake Lozère or along the Yvette.

In a highly urbanised environment, this is a green space where you can relax and enjoy a pleasant walk along the Yvette river and the Bassins de Saulx and Balizy. A hike from station to station with a shorter alternative for motorists.

A varied walk, combining the rich heritage of Bruyères-le-Châtel with an original route along the paths of this commune, and a path through the forest, between the fields or along a vast stretch of water.

The main aim of this walk is to reach La Roche Turpin from a station (RER C). La Roche Turpin is a magnificent natural area consisting of a sandstone plateau and its slopes, covered by a beautiful forest mainly populated by oaks (including some superb specimens), chestnut trees and Scots pines.At the start, you can enjoy the path around the Bassin de Trévoix (Retenue de l'Orge). You then make a pleasant walk through the village of Bruyères-le-Châtel via a dense network of well-maintained footpaths. Next comes the beautiful forest of Bruyères-le-Châtel (although there are long straight stretches due to fences enclosing large areas).

A lovely walk among ponds, marshes and, above all, birds, ducks, etc., lasting 4½ to 5 hours, or longer if you stop to watch the birds on the ponds.

This last stage of the journey along the Essonne offers many opportunities to play leapfrog with the river. It is obviously the stage with the most urban sections. The town of Corbeil-Essonnes reveals its rich religious, civil and industrial heritage.

This second section, dedicated to the Bièvre, begins in a still rural setting but quickly moves into a heavily urbanised area. However, the route favours small streets and public parks. It is also here that the river’s course becomes partly underground, reappearing here and there. There are heritage sites, notably the impressive aqueducts at Arcueil and Cachan, and beautiful views of Paris in the ‘upper’ part of the route.

Hike connecting Igny (Essonne) to the Palace of Versailles. The route follows the Bievre, and 80% of the route is on roads through forests. A calm, cool walk with scenery that will leave you with a unique souvenir.

This is a fairly short hike that allows you to discover two rigoles (small water collection channels) on the Saclay Plateau: the Rigole Domaniale and the Rigole de Favreuse. These rigoles were built in the 17th century to supply water to the Palace of Versailles. The route alternates between woods and cultivated fields, with a rich heritage in Vauhallan.