If you
want to relax in a verdant setting or in the woods, you will be surprised
to discover in the Yvelines department, just a few kilometres from
Paris, the real countryside of the Vallée de Chevreuse, the
Forêt de Rambouillet or the Parc animalier de Thoiry and France
Miniature.
| The
Vallée de Chevreuse |
 |
You don't need a car to discover the superb Vallée de Chevreuse.
The Baladobus will take you from Easter Sunday to mid-October (except
in August) to visit the region from the RER B stop. It will take you
through the most beautiful spots of this valley, the Châteaux
de la Madeleine, de Dampierre and de Breteuil, and the Musée
National des Granges in Port-Royal-des-Champs.
But
the Vallée de Chevreuse, where Jean Racine lived, is also
some 250 kilometres of footpaths and of numerous routes that you
can follow on foot, by bike or on horseback.
The
Maison du Parc Naturel Régional has published a guidebook
on the Vallée de Chevreuse. You can find it in the valley
or order it on 01.30.52.09.09, a telephone number from which you
can also obtain further information.
| Forêt
de Rambouillet |
|
The Forêt de Rambouillet, a favourite spot for hunters from
the region, will allow you to relax during a walk along its many footpaths
and pass the animals that live there. The wild boar, roe deer, stags
and rabbits are indeed present among the hundred-year-old trees and
natural copses. If you are very watchful, you should be able to see
them close to the footpaths.
You
will need a vehicle to get to the Forêt de Rambouillet, as
buses do not go here.
| Parc
de Thoiry (réserve animalière) |
|
For the young and curious, the Parc Animalier de Thoiry is open every
day of the week. Drive past the animals in partial freedom in this
immense safari park, a real African reserve, and visit its botanical
and zoological gardens, the Château de Thoiry and its gardens.
The
Parc de Thoiry is located at: Château de Thoiry 78770 Thoiry-en-Yvelines.
It is recommended to have your own vehicle for this trip: Thoiry
is 40 km from Paris, and it will be more useful for the safari.
For
further information, consult 24h a day, the recorded message of
the Parc, which will give you the opening times and the prices.
This
exceptional and magical visit will delight both children and adults
- we highly recommend it!
| La
France Miniature |
|
Still in the Yvelines department, you can visit France Miniature,
«the genuine little world which makes you grow».
You
will discover the whole of France in reduced size. 160 reproductions
of the most famous French monuments will make you want to prolong
your holiday to discover the rest of France.
To
get there by car from Paris, take the A13, then the A12 or the A86,
following Elancourt (about 25 km from Paris).
France
Miniature can be reached by public transport: take the train from
the SNCF station La Défense or Paris Montparnasse. Get off
at La Verrière station then take bus line 411 (paying), getting
off at France Miniature station.
The
exact address of France Miniature is 25, route du Mesnil - 78990
- Elancourt.
Tel.:(+33)
01.30.16.16.30
| Parc
Zoologique de Saint - Cloud |
|
In the Hautes - Seine department (92), right on the edge of Paris,
you can visit the Parc Zoologique de Saint - Cloud.
It
is very easy to get there - you get off at metro station Pont de
Saint - Cloud (terminus of line 10), or else go by bus, getting
off at the terminus of line 52.
You
can visit the over 460 hectares of this very green zoo on foot or
by bike. Children will be delighted with the puppets on Wednesdays,
Saturdays and Sundays. You can also visit the pedagogical farm.
A pleasant day out for all the family!
|
For
lovers of nature
