Senlisse walks

Hike along steep paths then through the narrow streets of a picturesque village.

Near Rambouillet, the Vaux de Cernay offer many pleasant walks. The one suggested here gives a good overview of the site’s variety: ponds and wetlands, a passage through a sandstone boulder field and through the old quarries. This walk is enjoyable in all seasons.

A hike that allows you to discover centuries-old chestnut trees.

A loop starting from Cernay-la-Ville. Head west towards Le Perray and Vieille-Église. Return via the Rambouillet Forest. 75% of the route is in the forest. Start and finish in the town centre.The circuit is almost flat (a small descent and climb towards the end), with a little road at the start and end (2 x 1.5 km) and the rest on forest paths. No technical difficulty, but it's not a leisurely ride (not suitable for families), as the paths can be very bumpy (stones, ruts, etc.) but are nevertheless often very beautiful.

This short route alternates between forest paths and paths along fields, following a small stream called Rouillon de Valence. It ends with a return to Dampierre-en-Yvelines in front of the château and its majestic park.

The first part of the hike takes in many points of interest. The second part offers a route through forest and quiet country lanes. This circuit is not recommended for young children as it includes some very steep and stony paths.

A hike with varied landscapes. The route is mainly through the undergrowth of a beautiful forest with sections along the riverbank. 07/08/2023 Moderator's note: hike modified at point 2 to avoid private property.

At the heart of the Chevreuse Valley Natural Park, a hike that allows you to wander through a protected natural site with a trail laid out by the Park. In the Bois de Maincourt, one can see ancient sandstone quarries. The course of the river Yvette, which the trail follows on the way back, finally allows a patrimonial approach with old mills and old washhouses.

A beautiful hike to discover the beautiful sights of the Chevreuse valley: the Chatillonmill, the castle of Dampierre, the blacksmith’s, the villages of Fourcherolles, Senlisse and Choisel, Méridon castle, the village of Chevreuse and its small bridges along the Yvette, and Château de la Madeleine.

A short hike in the Upper Chevreuse Valley, rich in heritage and offering beautiful views of the Vallon du Pommeret and the wooded hills that surround it.

This hike will take you from castle to castle in the Chevreuse Valley: Coubertin, Méridon, Breteuil, Dampierre and La Madeleine. You will also discover Chevreuse, its small bridges and its Saint-Martin Church (with its remarkable ambulatory) and the surrounding countryside. The hike can start from Chevreuse or from the RER B station at Saint-Rémy-les-Chevreuse (departure and return details in italics). In this case, add 2 km to the length of the hike.

Starting from the car park at the old sandpit, walk slightly uphill through the forest, then downhill along a stream, past the farm and continue along the stream.

Circular route dotted with beautiful views. You pass through forests and villages, streams and ponds, and alongside historic and remarkable sites such as Château de la Madeleine and Port Royal with its Jean Racine trail. The only difficulty is the short steep climb to Château de Chevreuse.

Visit the Château de la Madeleine's belvedere, castle and cellars via a trail around the Plaine de la Madeleine. We recommend starting from the "Carrefour de Milon," which is accessible from the beautiful little village of Milon-la-Chapelle.

Hike through the woods and pretty little villages.

In the footsteps of Jean Racine, in places steeped in history. A walk through a variety of environments, between forests, meadows and cultivated fields, with a lovely view of the ancient Abbey of Port-Royal des Champs.

This rural route will take you to Pecqueuse, where you can admire the town of Limours from the viaduct overlooking it. You will also discover the old aerotrain line, now converted into a greenway discreetly hidden under the canopy.

A loop around the Bois de Montabé, following the edge of an old railway line, a short section across fields and ending on paths and lanes. A walk to get some fresh air in the afternoon.

A hike from station to station where you play leapfrog with the Yvette River! The route is mostly close to the river and crosses a few woods and pretty parks, including the one in the western part of the Paris-Sud University campus.

Thirty-third and penultimate stage of the Grand Tour of Île-de-France via the GR®11, almost entirely in the Yvelines department.It starts in Saint-Rémy-lès-Chevreuse and reaches Coignières after climbing up the Yvette valley and crossing the Haute Vallée de Chevreuse Regional Nature Park with its rich natural and architectural heritage, just a stone's throw from Paris and its inner suburbs.

From the RER B station at Saint-Rémy-lès-Chevreuse, visit the 11th-century medieval castle (1030) in Chevreuse and its ramparts, with a view overlooking the Chevreuse Valley. A day of nature, sport, excitement and gastronomy awaits you.

The first part of this walk alternates between woodland and fields. The return journey is through undergrowth, along the former railway line that used to link Saint-Rémy-lès-Chevreuse and Limours.

This magnificent route will allow you to discover the wonders of the Chevreuse Valley, passing through the Domaine de Coubertin, the Meridon Departmental Forest, the Bois du Vossery sandstone quarry, the village of Chevreuse with its shopping streets, its church, the Promenade des Petits Ponts and its medieval castle.

This walk will first take you on a tour of Auffargis’s heritage. Then, following only footpaths, you’ll walk alongside streams and watercourses to discover the Étang du Perray. You will then walk through the Bois des Vindrins to reach a well-known sand pit. Continuing your walk through this woodland, you will arrive at Les Vaux de Cernay, where you can see its abbey.

Loop around the source of the Yvette at Les Essarts-le-Roy.

A short forest hike in two stages. After a lovely view of the former Port-Royal-des-Champs Abbey, you climb up the Vallon du Rodhon on a path and trails that wind through the undergrowth. The hike then follows the wide paths of the Port-Royal Forest.

A very beautiful hike to discover the wonderful rural and natural landscape of the north-west of the Chevreuse Valley, offering a radical change of scenery from the urban and commercial area of Coignières.

A walk between the new town and the forest. The Étang des Noés is home to many birds that nest in the reeds on its banks. After walking around the pond, the more adventurous can take an easy stroll through the forest.

A walk between ponds, country lanes and forest, passing through the small town of Mesnil-Saint-Denis. This hike is accessible to all. It takes you through a variety of places with lovely views. Please note that there is virtually no shade for two-thirds of the route between the points (1) and (6), so it is best to avoid it in very hot weather.

In the Haute Vallée de Chevreuse Natural Park, this hike alternates between forest paths and small roads through meadows and woods, revealing a rich heritage including the Fontaine Sainte-Anne, which was a place of pilgrimage for many years.

Hike along the Yvette river, with its wash houses, passing by the Château de la Madeleine. The route also passes through a forest in a former sandstone quarry.

This is the thirty-fourth and final stage of the Grand Tour of Île-de-France via the GR®11. It starts in Coignières and ends in Villiers-Saint-Frédéric, where the radial section of the GR® coming from Paris meets the circular section, which will therefore be completed here. The route follows, more or less closely, the course of the Mauldre River, passing through Bazoches-sur-Guyonne, Mareil-le-Guyon and Neauphle-le-Vieux.

A circular route that starts on a cultivated plateau before descending into the Mérantaise valley. Then, mostly in the undergrowth, you play leapfrog with the river.

A hike from station to station that takes us to the source of the River Yvette and then up and down through the woods that frame its valley. The route crosses the Maincourt Marsh and then an area of rocky chaos. The forest trails are interspersed with villages and hamlets rich in heritage.

A walk alternating between woodland and farmland, mostly on footpaths with a few sections on roads with very little traffic.

This short walk combines natural and built heritage. In the first part, you will discover Bonnelles and its old castle by following the paths that wind through the village. In the second part, you will walk through the commune's nature reserve, surrounded by wetland vegetation and two beautiful ponds.

This walk from Bonnelles to Rochefort-en-Yvelines alternates between woods and meadows. You will discover the charming hamlet of La Bâte. As you climb up to Saint-Gilles Church in Rochefort, you will enjoy a magnificent view of this ancient feudal town. On the way back, you will cross the Étangs de Bonnelles Nature Reserve.

This hike explores part of the hydraulic network built during the reign of Louis XIV to supply water to the Palace of Versailles. After a very pleasant walk along the Vieille-Eglise Aqueduct and through the Bois des Vindrins, the trail continues through cultivated plains alongside small irrigation channels.

A walk in a green setting and beside a peaceful little lake in the middle of Élancourt (on the border with Maurepas). Combine it with a visit to the Commanderie des Templiers de la Villedieu and, why not, a visit to France Miniature, which is right next door.

A south-north crossing offering a very varied route. Sections through the forest alternate with stretches across fields. Water features are plentiful, with several rivers—the Yvette, the Marette and the Bièvre—and the Étangs de Montbrond set in their lush green surroundings. (Warning) The route is cut off at the point (12) due to works on Metro Line 18 (as of March 2026). A diversion is under consideration. Please refrain from undertaking this hike until further notice.

A hike from station to station, yo-yoing between the Yvette valley and the Saclay plateau, with a few fairly steep hills. After a mostly wooded route with some elevation, you cross Gif-sur-Yvette and then walk along a wetland area framed by two rivers. You climb back up onto the plateau, near the Paris-Saclay University campus. After visiting the old Troche quarry and walking along the edge of the plateau, you descend back into the valley.

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).

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.

An alternative route to the first section of the Chemin Charles Péguy. It bypasses Limours and instead showcases the Hurepoix region. Discover the beautiful village of Forges-les-Bains and a route through stunning countryside.

In addition to introducing you to the Domaines d'Ors nature reserve, this route is of interest because it allows you to discover the old sandstone quarries at the start of the route, which are ideal for fun activities, and the Ruisseau du Fond de la Cure at the end of the route, whose steep gradient and the sound of the torrent give the impression of a mountain trail.

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.

In the Haute Vallée de Chevreuse Natural Park, a hike mainly through forest, with a variety of tree species and ponds hidden in the fern undergrowth. The Fontaine Sainte-Anne, which was a place of pilgrimage for many years, is a pleasant spot to stop for a rest.

You will cross from one side of the small valley to the other, where the Ru de la Courance flows, and on the opposite side you will follow a hillside route amongst mainly oak and chestnut trees, as well as ferns and heather in season. You will have the opportunity to walk alongside the Bassin de la Courance, either close by or at a distance.

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

A loop with several faces... You start along a river and a pond. You then climb up a path to cross a section of the Rambouillet Forest where there are some remarkable trees. You finish through reeds and along a pond.

A route mainly through forest, with some remarkable trees and a beautiful pond, and a heritage detour through the hamlet of Loireux.

PLEASE NOTE THAT IT WILL NO LONGER BE POSSIBLE TO DO THIS ROUTE FROM SEPTEMBER 2022 DUE TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE HILL FOR THE 2024 OLYMPIC GAMES. This route passes by many interesting sites and places: an old church, a lake, viewpoints and, in particular, La Revanche hill, the highest point in the Île-de-France region. It is advisable to do this route on a clear day if possible, so that you can enjoy the view of the entire region to the full.

A very short walk to get some fresh air around a pond that is home to many birds. Along the way, you will discover a Gothic-style church, the ruins of the keep of the former Château de Maurepas and a remarkable oak tree.

A short walk in a beautiful forest environment, perfect for getting some fresh air in the morning or afternoon. In the heart of the forest, a remarkable tree, the Gros Chêne (Big Oak), lives up to its name.

Short hike in the Île-de-France region, from Élancourt Village to the Courance de Maurepas pond. The outward journey follows the left bank of the Ru d'Elancourt, the return journey follows the right bank. The first part (from (S) to (3)) can no longer be done. The entire Elancourt hill (la Revanche) is under construction in preparation for the Olympic Games and is therefore closed to hiking. This will remain the case until 2025... See reviews

Starting from the Bassin de la Courance in Maurepas, you will walk through woods, fields and small hillside villages. This hike is accessible to everyone, young and old alike.

The first part of the route follows a very quiet local road through horse pastures, then enters the forest along a sandy path where there are old trees, including a hollow one large enough to shelter a person. The surface is ideal if it has rained in the preceding days.

A very varied hike, showcasing the best features of the Hurepois, a small natural region in the south-west of the Ile-de-France. It starts with a few villages rich in heritage: churches, a castle, a keep, wash houses, etc. It continues through meadows with numerous horses. The hike ends with a very pleasant walk through the woods.

A circular hike around Rochefort-en-Yvelines. The first circular loop goes north-west into the Bois de Rochefort and then returns to the town centre with a view of the cemetery and the Church of Saint-Gilles-et-de-l'Assomption. The second circular route goes around the village to the south and then east, reaching the Gloriette (river) before temporarily rejoining the route from the first part. The return journey is again through the Bois de Rochefort to reach the starting point at the Carrefour de Luynes. An ideal circular route in May with lily of the valley between the Fief de Belloy and the Butte de la Justice.

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

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.

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.

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.