Wednesday 27 June at Poissy and Médan

The collegiate church at Poisy

This week I propose a walk of about 16km from Poissy to Villennes sur Seine. We'll explore the Medieval part of Poissy first, seeing its importance in historical terms as the birthplace of St Louis (King Louis IX). Then we'll walk along the Seine passing through Villennes sur Seine (6km) on our way to Médan (8km) where we will have lunch. This village has a chateau, an XIth century church and also the house of Emile Zola (at present covered in scaffolding but still worth a look).

Anyone wanting a shorter day could retrace their steps from Medan to Villennes station (total of10km) which we will already have passed. For the rest of us we will climb gently up through fields and woods (a bit overgrown and muddy in one place) and then make our way back down (including a flight of steps) with distant views over the Seine and La Defense to the pretty town of Villennes and back to the station.

TRAVEL ARRANGEMENTS

I will drive so will meet you at Poissy station.
Meet at Châtelet Les Halles to catch RER A train TEDY direction Poissy at 9.48. This train passes through Charles de Gaulle Etoile at 9.53 and La Defense at 9.58 and arrives at Poissy at 10.18.

Travel in the rear of the train if you like being with friends! Poissy and Villennes are in zone 5. Poissy has a complicated series of exits. I will wait for you at sortie Rue de La Gare. This exit is at the end of the platform and down some steps.

RETURN JOURNEY

Trains from Villennes sur Seine to Poissy and then onwards to Saint Lazare run every half hour at 11 and 41 minutes past the hour. The journey to Poissy takes 4 minutes and there you can change and take RER A back to Paris which runs every 20 minutes or stay on the train and go to Saint Lazare which takes 26 minutes.

Wear strong shoes and bring water/ lunch/ rain/ sun/ snow gear, whatever seems appropriate!

Judy
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Zola's country house at Medan