Versailles walks

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

A beautiful walk through open woodland and along two charming ponds, ideal for a simple half-day outing.

A loop that is largely forested, although located in a peri-urban area, where you also pass through a few residential neighbourhoods with spacious houses. The small town of Marnes, with its beautiful heritage, deserves the description "charming". A touch of remembrance is provided by the monument in homage to the Lafayette Escadrille.

This route allows you to discover both the Minière ponds, upstream of the Bièvre river, and to pass close to the Palace of Versailles by crossing the Parc des Suisses. It is also a route through the Versailles National Forest, allowing you to enjoy a pleasant walk along the Bièvre. It is a route for all seasons, as the landscape changes with the weather.

A green loop around the ponds of Moulin à Renard, La Minière, Val d'Or and La Geneste in the Bièvre valley, with an optional detour to admire the Arcades de Buc.

A hike from station to station, mainly through forest. Although located in an urban setting, this route takes you through green (in season) and peaceful areas. The Chêne des Missions oak tree and the Étang du Trou au Gants pond are two beautiful points of interest.

You pass by the Etang d'Ursine, a nameless pond, then the Etang du Trou aux Gants, before reaching the Chêne des Missions, a remarkable tree surrounded by pseudo-megaliths. This route starts in the Mare Adam forest park and continues through the Meudon National Forest, with a brief detour into a pretty residential area. Allow half a day for this walk.

A hike from station to station that takes you on a rollercoaster ride through the Fausses-Reposes Forest and Saint-Cloud Park. Along the way, you can enjoy the Étangs de Ville-d'Avray, the park's ponds and statues, and a superb view of the Val de Seine and Paris.

A beautiful, challenging hike in the forest, just a stone's throw from Paris. Choose between 25 km or 35 km, with 700 and 900 m of elevation gain respectively. Despite a few urban sections, most of the route is in the heart of the forest, shaded by deciduous trees. The forest is beautiful, and there are some lovely views, but the appeal is more athletic than touristy. The route includes many quick changes of direction, making it difficult to follow without GPS. The entire route is less than 10 km from the western part of Paris.

Dedicated to equestrian sports, the Haras de Jardy Departmental Park is open to the public. Starting from Marnes-la-Coquette, which lives up to its name, this short walk takes you along the paths of the park and the trails of the neighbouring Fausses-Reposes Forest.

An unsuspected corner of wild nature, just twenty kilometres from Paris. In the Parc Départemental des Côtes de Montbron, the Ru de Saint-Marc and three ponds are home to a variety of flora and numerous birds. A short walk for nature lovers! 15/11/2024: A landslide has been reported just past the point (6) and it seems impossible to get through at the moment.

This bike ride will take you from the Parc de Villeneuve-l'Étang to the Étang de Saint-Cucufa, in the heart of the Malmaison National Forest. Along the way, you will pass through the village-like towns of Marnes-la-Coquette and Garches, just a stone's throw from Paris.

This 18 km circuit, which is of moderate difficulty due to the elevation, starts at the Sèvres - Ville d'Avray train station and takes you on a journey of discovery through the NationalEstate of Saint-Cloud and its green surroundings. You will discover the homes of famous figures, La Cité de la Céramique, the Musée des Avelines, the Haras de Jardy and the bucolic Ferme du Piqueur along the way.

A mainly forest route despite its proximity to Paris! After crossing the Bois de Louveciennes, you can enjoy the Parc de Marly, with its views and ponds. The route ends in the Marly National Forest, with a winding path at first, then a wide, straight path.

A mainly forest route with a pleasant section along the Etang de Saint-Cucufa and a brief detour through a residential area and old orchards to enjoy a beautiful view from the Belvédère des Gallicourts. A half-day walk.

Sung about by Georges Brassens, the Bois de Clamart and Meudon woods offer many attractions for walkers, in addition to "little flowers" and "friends". The numerous ponds dotted along the route are particularly enjoyable. A few paths winding through the undergrowth, some remarkable trees and a little heritage add to the pleasure of this half-day walk.

A former royal estate (Louis XIV liked to entertain his friends here, away from the court), the Parc de Marly combines a rich heritage with the pleasure of strolling along woodland paths, wide avenues and vast lawns.

A half-day walk, mainly in the woods, with a beautiful pond and the vast lawn of the Domaine de Beauregard.

A walk that allows you to discover the places favoured by the Impressionists and the beautiful old villas that dot the banks of the Seine. The route is perfectly passable even when it has rained.

Starting from Pont de Sèvres, this loop begins in an urban area but mainly takes place in the Meudon Forest, with a few hills. The end of the route follows the towpath along the Seine.

The upstream part of this series of three hikes devoted to the Bièvre river. A very pleasant walk along the river and its bodies of water, in a mostly rural setting. A hike from station to station, which can be used to adjust the length depending on the weather conditions or desires of the hikers.

The second stage of this women's march on 5 October 1789 takes more liberties with the supposed route of the procession at the time. Starting in Sèvres and ending in Versailles, the route is distinctly urban, but between the two, it is predominantly forest. The Palace of Versailles is the highlight of this hike (with its park if you wish to make an extra detour).

An accessible route in a historic site on the outskirts of the capital. This walk combines heritage, greenery and sweeping views of Paris.

Set off on a pleasant bike ride in the heart of the Hauts-de-Seine, combining contemporary art, greenery and local culture. This approximately 6-kilometre route connects the modernity of the Seine Musicale in Boulogne-Billancourt with the originality of the Playing Card Museum in Issy-les-Moulineaux, passing by the unusual Tour aux Figures on Île Saint-Germain.

A short walk along the streams of the Plaine de Versailles, including the Ru de Gally, which rises in the castle grounds. The charming village of Rennemoulin boasts a chapel, a wash house and an old bridge, while the Fontaine de Maltoute is a pleasant place to stop and rest in the shade.

A route through two wooded areas on either side of the Seine. From one large waterfall to another, from one racecourse to another, the hike alternates between paths and urban passages, flower beds and sculpted heritage, ponds and lakes.

A hike that starts on the banks of the Seine and then crosses the Parc de Saint-Cloud, passing by its main lakes. You then stroll through Marnes-la-Coquette and Ville-d'Avray at the foot of beautiful, large houses. After winding your way between the Étangs de Ville-d'Avray, you walk through the southern part of the Forêt de Fausses-Reposes. The hike ends in a residential neighbourhood of Versailles.

Although highly urbanised, western Paris offers a considerable density of green spaces and forests, which this series of hikes, from station to station or in a circular route starting from a station, invites you to (re)discover. Several forest areas are on the programme: Saint-Cloud, La Celle, Marly, Versailles, Les Tailles d'Herbelaye and Saint-Germain-en-Laye. There is also a rich heritage to discover, particularly in the parks of Saint-Cloud and Marly, in Marnes-la-Coquette, Chambourcy and Poissy.

A short hike that starts on a little-known path along the Seine. It then runs alongside the Longchamp racecourse and the Suresnes and Longchamp ponds. After a brief stop at the Grande Cascade, it reaches Lac Supérieur and explores its southern tip. The route ends with a crossing of the Auteuil racecourse, on days when there are no horse races, of course.

This hike first takes us up the hill of Saint-Cloud, then through the park of the same name with its gardens, flower beds, ponds and Greco-Roman-inspired statues. We then walk through a residential area with beautiful houses. After crossing the Bois de La Celle, we walk through the "village" of La Celle Saint-Cloud to reach Bougival station.

Artists' studios and houses in the heart of the Bois de Clamart.This moderately difficult route starts at Meudon-Val Fleury station. The first few kilometres of this walk invite you to discover artists' houses. On your way, don't hesitate to stop at Rodin's house and studio, which overlooks Paris and the Seine in a green setting. Other charming places such as the Arp Foundation will enhance your journey. The rest of the route is mainly through woods, where you will discover the Meudon lake and catch a glimpse of the Chalais lake, bordered by the imposing Hangar Y.

The route mainly follows the Seine towpath, close to the river, and should not be attempted during periods of high water. Many houseboats are permanently moored along the route, which ends at the foot of the impressive towers of La Défense. Do not undertake this trip when the Seine is in flood.

After following paths through the town, this walk from station to station offers the chance to discover the Meudon Observatory and admire the sweeping views from the terrace of its park. The rest of the route is mainly through forest.

We start by exploring Billancourt's industrial past on the former Renault factory sites, with a detour to the Ile Seguin. We then continue on to the Ile Saint-Germain, with its residential area and large green park. We end with a tribute to French cinema. This is an urban itinerary, but numerous parks and gardens, as well as many passageways, alleys and even footpaths, allow you to avoid the inconveniences of traffic.

A circuit with varied landscapes, in the Verrières forest and along the Bièvre river. A breath of fresh air and greenery just a few kilometres from the capital.

A short half-day walk. After a good walk through the woods, the route becomes more heritage-oriented with the hamlet of Vauboyen and the Maison Victor Hugo. The walk ends along the River Bièvre.

Well known to Parisians, the Bois de Boulogne offers many possibilities for walks. This one, which can be done in half a day, avoids paved paths as much as possible and offers a pleasant route along a stream, "la Serpentine", and a lake, with an easy passage under a waterfall.

This is a very simple walk, as it follows the Seine almost from start to finish. There are beautiful views of the river and large, attractive houses along the way.

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.

A hike which is mostly in the forest, with lovely sections along the Mérantaise river and the ditches which run down from the Saclay Plateau.

A mainly forest route with several remarkable trees here and there. The site of the Croix Saint-Michel offers a view stretching as far as Paris. A short but fairly challenging hike, given the alternating ascents and descents (the total elevation gain is probably underestimated; allow for around 200m).

Around Saint-Nom-la-Bretèche station - Marly Forest, a walk in a beautiful deciduous forest. It suffered greatly from the great storm of 1999, which flattened the oak trees on the motorway like straw, but this hike has a high density of remarkable trees (oaks, hornbeams, beeches). As the Marly forest is crossed by several busy roads, this hike focuses on the quietest part. It also offers a few viewpoints.

In the footsteps of Josephine and the Impressionist painters From Rueil-Malmaison, this 13 km bike ride with no particular difficulty will take you from the banks of the Seine, which served as a backdrop for the Impressionist painters, to the National Museum of the Malmaison and Bois-Préau Castles. Discover two important aspects of the history of Rueil-Malmaison: the remains of the Empire period, which was fundamental to the town's founding, and the natural setting of the Seine, which inspired many Impressionist painters inthe 19th century. The route ends along the Parc des Impressionnistes, which evokes Claude Monet's gardens in Giverny.

Short, easy hike in the Verrières-le-Buisson Forest.

This long, moderately difficult 22 km route starts at the Suresnes Mont-Valérien station. The starting point is very close to the MUS , the Suresnes Museum of Urban and Social History, which is an ideal introduction to the urban landscapes you will encounter along the way. From Puteaux in the 1930s to Mont Valérien, the vineyards of Suresnes, the Cité-Jardins and the Tours Nuage tower blocks bordered by the André Malraux park in Nanterre, a whole chapter of 20th-century history unfolds before your eyes thanks to these exceptional reminders of the past.

A beautiful hike through Le Vésinet, with its five lakes and rivers, as well as along the Seine.

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.

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.

The commune of Le Vésinet enjoys a unique status in France as it is a "park town". It was designed with rivers and lawns, and houses surrounded by huge gardens. Its proximity to the Seine makes for a varied and very pleasant walk, easily accessible by RER. At the end of the walk, the Île des Ibis offers a reward for young and old alike: a children's playground and numerous water birds to observe.

Starting from the Saint-Germain-en-Laye RER station, this loop begins on the grounds and terrace of the château, then alternates between wide forest paths and trails that wind through the undergrowth.

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 circuit consists almost exclusively of paved forest roads, at least in part, and is closed to motor traffic. This allows you to hike in the forest without having to surf on paths full of water and mud in winter.

This heritage trail will allow you to discover and visit the two sites that hosted Olympic and Paralympic events for the Paris 2024 Games in the Hauts-de-Seine department: Paris La Défense Arena in Nanterre and the Yves-du-Manoir Stadium in Colombes. Created through a collaboration between the Nanterre Tourist Office, OMEPS and the towns of Nanterre and Colombes for the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games, this route is suitable for beginner cyclists and also allows you to enjoy the banks of the Seine. The bike ride alternates between contemporary buildings and unexpected green spaces.

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 pleasant hike through the forest and along a golf course in a little-known part of the Marly National Forest.