Saint Germain Boucles de Seine

The Seine and its banks have inspired many artists, including the Impressionist painters. These include Sisley, Pissarro, Monet and Renoir, who painted one of his best-known pictures, "Le déjeuner des canotiers", in Chatou.

There arefour walking itineraries to discover some thirty reproductions of paintings by the Impressionist painters, placed in the very places where they set up their easels.

Two major cycling itineraries pass through the Saint-Germain Boucles de Seine area: theAvenue Verte London - Parisand the Seine à vélo. These two cycle routes start in central Paris and link London for the former and Deauville or Le Havre for the latter.

Plus: in the mood for 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!

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

The state forests of Marly-le-Roiand Saint-Germain, once the hunting grounds of the kings, are now a favorite destination for walkers. The Marly forest is more hilly than the Saint-Germain forest, making it ideal for family outings on foot or by bike.

With its market-garden plains and communal meadows, Croissy-sur-Seine was once known as the queen of the Halles de Paris, its "pot au feu" vegetables supplying the Parisian stalls. The carrot, the town's emblem, is still celebrated at the annual fête in September. Today, the plains of Carrières-sur-Seine 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, salad fields 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 meadow... but also in the gardens, with two national estates. Saint-Germain-en-Laye , with its famous terrace designed by Le Nôtre, dominates the west of Paris, while Marly-le-Roi, with its pretty parkland, is a rural setting, with only the château (royal residence) left standing today.

Bonus: learn to recognize wild plants and how to cook them, cuddle trees or learn to weave a basket... sounds tempting? If you'd like to get back to basics, take the train to Saint-Lazare. In less than 40 minutes, nature is yours!