Our 5 most beautiful bike rides in the paris region

The weather is nice, get your bikes out! Enjoy the Paris region by bike with our five most beautiful rides that will not fail to surprise and amaze you. No compulsory route, just fun, that’s also the advantage of cycling!

Cycling also means discovering beautiful landscapes, and the least we can say is that the Paris region is full of must-see places. Thanks to the new interactive regional map offered by the Ile-de-France Region , it is now possible to prepare for your trip by discovering all of the cycle paths in the region. This map is the essential tool to facilitate your daily trips by bike or to organize a short weekend stroll.

We have listed our favorite walks for you! All you have to do is pedal and enjoy!

Does the Palace of Versailles mean something to you? This 17th century masterpiece created by Louis XIV is only a few kilometers from Paris (allow 1h30 by bike) . On site, in addition to discovering the sublime building of the Sun King, you will find something to go for a ride with your bike. Pedal along the grand canal, created by André Le Nôtre, to have a very nice overview of the Domaine. It is approximately 23 hectares that await you with a width of 60 meters, 1700 meters from east to west and 1000 meters from north to south.

Don’t stop there, go through the paths of the Château park using the asphalt roads or dirt tracks. The park of the Palace of Versailles is the ideal place for cyclists, but if you want to enjoy the gardens of the Palace and the Trianon estate, you will need to secure your bike first since the area is closed to bicycles. But I promise, they too were designed by the King’s gardener, they are worth a look! So don’t forget  your anti-theft device during your preparations!

To take advantage of it, you are spoiled for choice: take the Route de la Grille Royale, the Route de Marly, the Route de Bacchus, the Allée de Saint-Denis or the Route de Maintenon. Remember  to bring your water bottle or even bring a picnic to take a few breaks during your journey. Visiting Versailles by bike means adding a little (a lot) of History to our ride and we love that!

The one nicknamed the “Château Vieux”, former residence of the kings of France, is one of the castles in the region not to be missed. Located in the west of Paris, the castle of Saint-Germain-en-Laye offers a superb park in addition to a breathtaking view of the Seine valley. Venture into the national forest, this plant and landscape heritage of more than 3,500 hectares.

This forest is today very popular with walkers, horse riders and cyclists. You will thank us for taking your bike there: it is, in fact, listed as a “classified wooded area” (EBC). Take advantage of the Corra pond to stop for a few minutes for an impromptu meal or simply listen to the birds sing before getting back on your bike.

Did you know that the Saint-Germain-en-Laye forest is the second forest massif in Yvelines after the Rambouillet forest? Around forty remarkable trees await you there for a natural heritage that is worth the detour. No less than 3 cycle paths have been created to facilitate bike rides in addition to a road bike and a greenway.

Now that you’re in on the secret, take the opportunity to take your bike and discover this incredible natural space. More than 22,000 hectares of preserved nature are waiting for you and promise to surprise you with the diversity of its landscapes. Indeed, set off to discover numerous ponds and moors, rocky chaos or even stretches of sand. This forest, recognized by UNESCO as a biosphere reserve, is a territory that will fascinate you, it is a unique space in France! But beware of accidents, remember to protect yourself with  a bicycle helmet : you never know what you might fall on.

It’s hard to believe that we are not far from the capital with the calm of the island. But the island is not as well equipped as Paris for bicycles, the roads have remained in their original state for more authenticity and charm. To overcome dirt roads and their few holes, don’t forget to equip yourself with a pair of gloves which will protect your hands and cushion the vibrations of the road. If it’s too hot, mittens will be perfect to guarantee an even more pleasant bike ride. Don’t worry, the island is still crossed by two major cycle routes : the Seine by bike and the Avenue Verte Paris London.

Don’t hesitate to get off your bike several times to discover the curiosities of this idyllic place such as the Saint-Léonard chapel with its quite astonishing bell tower or the Carrières-sur-Seine wash house which houses painting exhibitions. Take advantage of your time to visit the Fournaise museum to familiarize yourself with the impressionist movement or continue on your bike along the banks to discover the collection of steamboats, oars and sails entirely restored by the Séquana association. One of their latest emblematic restorations is that of the Madame canoe, regularly used by Maupassant.