Saint Germain Boucles de Seine

Market garden plains, protected natural areas, parks, forests... in Saint Germain Boucles de Seine, nature is everywhere.

The state forests of Marly-le-Roi and Saint-Germain, once the hunting grounds of the Kings, are now a favourite place for walkers. The Marly forest is a delight for mountain bikers as it is more hilly than the Saint-Germain forest, ideal for family walks or bike rides.

With its market garden plains and communal meadows, Croissy-sur-Seine was known as the queen of the Halles de Paris, its "pot au feu" vegetables supplied the Parisian stalls. The carrot, the town's emblem, is still celebrated during the annual festival in September. The plains of Carrières-sur-Seine now supply the great Parisian tables. Mushrooms are still grown in the underground quarries, some of which can even be visited, but without mushrooms (Carrara City)! In Montesson, the fields of lettuce are set against the backdrop of the La Défense towers, while in Mesnil-le-Roi, walkers come across sheep grazing peacefully in the meadows.

Happiness is in the field... but also in the gardens with two national domains. Saint-Germain-en-Laye, with its famous terrace designed by Le Nôtre, dominates the west of Paris. The domain of Marly-le-Roi is a rural place with its beautiful park, only the castle (royal residence) does not exist anymore.

The most: learning to recognise wild plants and how to cook them, cuddling with trees or learning to weave a basket, does this tempt you?
If you feel like getting back to basics, take the train at Saint-Lazare station ( Paris) and in less than 40 minutes, nature is yours!

The Seine river and its banks have inspired many artists, including the impressionist painters. Among them, Sisley, Pissarro, Monet and Renoir who painted one of his most famous pictures in Chatou, "Le déjeuner des canotiers".

Four walking routes are to be followed to discover thirty or so reproductions of paintings by the Impressionist painters placed in the very places where the painters had set up their easels.

Two major cycling routes pass through the Saint-Germain Boucles de Seine area: the Avenue Verte London-Paris and the Seine by bike. These two cycle routes start in the centre of Paris and link London for the first and Deauville or Le Havre for the second.

Must do :
Do you want an authentic experience?
Push open the door of the Sequana canoe restoration workshops in Chatou and learn how to tie a real sailor's knot or climb aboard Chloé (a small electrically powered boat) for a gentle ride on the Seine!

Step into history and follow in the footsteps of the Kings from Saint-Germain-en-Laye to Marly-le-Roi!

In the shade of the sun, pretty towns have developed, in turn market gardens, wine-growing areas or quarries, their stones have been used to build the greatest Parisian buildings and their vegetable production has supplied the stalls of the largest markets.

You will discover their picturesque lanes and their coloured or troglodyte houses, you will take the time to savour one of the local specialities or you will let yourself be tempted by a relaxing break on a terrace or by the side of a pond.

The best part: children's activities are available, so that the whole family can enjoy this cultural and relaxing break!