Wednesday 3 April at Creteil and Isle Adam

The lake at Creteil

Next Wednesday 3 April we will have a short walk and a longer walk. 

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The shorter option will be led by Jean Chameroy. 

We will walk around the lake of Creteil, a short walk of 4 km. without hills. Creteil is the préfecture of the department of the Val de Marne. The lake was created from a quarry in the mid-1970s.

Rendezvous at 10:30 in front of Cinema UGC, fifty meters to the right of the station "Creteil Prefecture" metro line 8. 

Possibility of lunch in Creteil Soleil, where there are twenty Restaurants.

See you on Wednesday, Jean

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For the longer option...

Daniel Perot will lead us in the Forêt of L'Isle-Adam in the department of the Val d'Oise (95), hunting grounds of Philippe le Bel, and a jousting ground for François I. Passing successively to the Montmorency, the Condés and then to the Conti families in the 17th century, the Conti princes engaged Le Nôtre to design and create long, straight alleys and intersections for their grand passion—hunting. After the Revolution the forest became the property of the state. Here is Daniel’s information:

The Pont de Cabouille

Built at the beginning of the 16th century, the bridge's name recalls that people came here to "cabouiller" the water, stirring it up to attract fish. Solid on its three arches, nicely weathered by the centuries, the bridge joins Cohue island (where bridge tolls and taxes were paid) to the Isle Adam shore. Nearby a slender bronze water nymph emerges from the shimmering river—the little siren Evila, work of the Belgian sculptress Marie-Josée Aerts (1990).

It's been a while since we were last here. After crossing the bridge, we'll visit the interesting church of Saint Martin then move on to the "Chinese Pavillion", an 18th century "folly" designed, it seems, by the painter Fragonard. The end of our walk will take us past abandoned quarries to the station Isle Adam, where we began.

Travel

Out: Paris gare du Nord 9.56, train POVA direction Persan Beaumont via Valmandois, to Isle Adam Parmain (zone 5). Arrival 10.51. A five-zone Mobilis ticket might be cheaper than a round-trip ticket. Meet at the beginning of the platform.

Back: Isle Adam Parmain 16.50 arriving in Paris at 17.45. No earlier train.

Le Pont de Cabouille

Construit au début du XVIe siècle, ce pont rappelle, par son nom, que l'on

venait jadis ici « cabouiller » l'eau, la brouiller pour mieux y appâter le poisson. Solide sur ses trois arches, joliment patiné par les ans, il relie l'île de la Cohue (où l'on s'acquittait autrefois des droits de passage et de travers) à la rive de L'Isle-Adam. Tout près, une ondine de bronze, aux contours effilés, surgit des miroitements de l'eau. C'est la petite sirène Evila, œuvre du sculpteur belge Marie-Josée Aerts (1990).

Il y a un certain temps que nous n'avons pas été à cet endroit. Après avoir traversé le Pont de Cabouille, nous allons visiter l'intéressante église Saint-Martin et aller à la recherche du "Pavillon chinois", une folie du XVIIIe siècle dessinée, semble t-il, par le peintre Fragonard. La fin du parcours se fera le long d'anciennes carrières et nous ramènera à la gare de l'Isle-Adam, notre point de départ.
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GETTING THERE
Départ -- Paris Gare-du-Nord (surface), 9:56.  Prendre le train POVA. Direction Persan-Beaumont (via Valmondois).

    C'est en zone 5.  Rendez-vous au début du quai.
A Mobilis ticket (zone 5) could be more interesting than a round trip ticket.
Arrivée -- Gare de l'Isle-Adam/Parmain, 10:51.
 
Retour -- Gare de l'Isle-Adam/Parmain, 16:50. Arrivée : Paris, 17:45.
Il n'y a pas de train plus tôt.

Bring your lunch, water and hiking equipment for a 16/17-kilometer walk).

Looking forward to seeing you.

Daniel

daniel.perot@free.fr
09 50 56 65 26
Mobile (only the day of the walk) 06 51 22 35 16

The nymph Evila at Isle Adam

Wednesday 27 March: From the Old to the New in the Yvelines

The Commanderie at Elancourt

A walk from the Old to the New: Neauphle-le-Château to Elancourt following the Elancourt stream.

Distance: 19km

Terrain: several steepish climbs, a bit muddy in a few areas but nothing to worry about! (Stuart cannot compete with Judy where mud is concerned.)

This week's walk takes us from the ancient village of Neauphle le Château to the new town of Elancourt, created in the 1970s. At Neauphle le Château we walk along the Grande Rue, the old road from Paris to Brittany, with its lovely old houses and then descend into the valley passing through the quaint stone villages of Pontchartrain and La Richarderie. We then follow the course of the Elancourt stream and several water-mills before ascending to a path in the woods which takes us to Elancourt. 

I have found a lovely spot next to a small fishing lake for lunch where I can guarantee a seat for everyone. However, I estimate that we will reach here around 13h00 so if you feel that your stomach cannot last this long I suggest you pack a small pre-lunch! 

At Elancourt we thread through the town along its series of lakes and woods. Our target is the 12th century Templar Commanderie with its magnificent church and surrounding park. Currently they are hosting an exhibition of contemporary art and design from the 1930's to recent times which is well worth visiting and it's gratuit! From here it is a short walk to the gare de La Verriere.

Since we don't know if the weather will be like a lion or like a lamb, please come suitably attired and, of course, bring your usual good humour and scintillating conversation! The attached photo is of the Commanderie.

Getting there:

09.58 Gare Montparnasse (DAPO direction Dreux) zone 5
10.31 Villiers Neauphle Pontchartrain
**I suggest we all meet in the last carriage**

Return:

La Verriere => Gare Montparnasse: each hour at '39, zone 5
La Verriere => Versailles Chantier => Gare Montparnasse: each hour at '09
La Verriere => La Defense: 15:09, 35, 50; 16:05, 20, 35, 50

These trains all connect with the RER C at St. Quentin en Yvelines which is the second stop from La Verriere

Best Regards,
Stuart
mobile: 06 19 85 25 56

Wednesday 20 March, Vincennes or Etampes

Lac des Minimes, bois de Vincennes

Next Wednesday we are fortunate to have two willing leaders. Judy will lead us around Etampes and Jean will lead in the Bois de Vincennes.   

Jean's information:

 

We will walk 10-12km around the lakes in the Bois de Vincennes.  No hills.  

Meet at 10 o'clock under the golden statue at the Metro station Porte Dorèe (line 8).

Return by Chateau de Vincennes (line 1).

  

Do not forget the usual things: food, shoes, humour and your head.

See you on Wednesday,

Jean 

Judy's information:

Here is my suggestion for Wednesday—a trip to Etampes, a very interesting and attractive town. A couple of the highlights are the Tour Guinette and Saint Martin's church with its very crooked tower. After leaving the station we will immediately pass the Tour Guinette and then set off through the countryside on a walk of 21km. There will be a few hills but excellent views as ample reward for the effort . 

We will have lunch in the shelter of a lavoir. Lunch may be on the late side so you might want to bring a mid-morning snack. Then we will walk back along the River Juine and through a park into Etampes. After about 19km if you wish  you could catch a train home from Saint Martin d'Etampes—but you would miss a very pretty walk back into Etampes and after all it's only another couple of kilometres!

Travel

 

We will take RER C train ELBA (last carriage) direction Saint Martin d'Etampes to Etampes which leaves from:

     Saint Michel Notre Dame at 8.58

     Paris Austerlitz at 9.02

     Bibliothèque François Mitterrand at 9.05

and arrives at Etampes at 9.58.

The return journey will be from the same station. Trains run every half hour on the hour and the half hour. (4 minutes earlier from St Martin d'Etampes.)

A Mobilis ticket would very probably be the cheapest option as Etampes is in Zone 5 and a single ticket from the centre of Paris is 8.20€.

Don't forget lunch, water, appropriate footwear—after the wonderful winter we have had there will be mud!—and appropriate clothing.

P.S. You may not want to drink too much at breakfast time as the first bushes don't appear for a little while!

Looking forward to seeing you all,

Judy

01 30 80 01 34

06 79 48 38 81

Etampes, Hôtel de Ville

Wednesday 13 March at UNESCO, hold the Yvelines!

The Orsay rhinoceros

This Wednesday you will have a tough decision to make, between a hike in the countryside of the Yvelines or a visit to UNESCO in Paris.

Here is Marcel's information about the UNESCO visit:

This Wednesday 13 March, hikers will be able to visit the buildings and grounds of UNESCO, with its Japanese garden, its recent Meditation Space, its works of art. Our guide will also tell us — in French — about this UN organization and its work.

We will be expected at the place Fontenay at 13.45. Before that, we'll have a stroll along and near the quais. If you like, you can join us for lunch, probably at the Café du Commerce, a traditional brasserie.

We meet at 10.15 at the RER C station Musée d'Orsay, on the plaza next to the rhinoceros.

Le mercredi 13 mars, le groupe des" promeneurs" aura l'occasion de visiter les bâtiments de l'UNESCO--avec son jardin japonais, son espace de méditation, ses oeuvres d'art, et le conférencier nous parlera aussi (en français) de cette Organisation en général.

Nous sommes attendus, place Fontenoy, à 13h45

Auparavant,nous ferons une balade sur les quais et ailleurs, et ceux qui le désireront pourront déjeuner avec le groupe (sans doute au "Café du Commerce",une brasserie à l'ancienne).

Le rendez-vous est à 10h15 à la station RER C Musée d'Orsay, sur la place, vers le rhinocéros.

Amicalement,

Marcel

01 46 26 45 14

Portable 06 88 55 64 02 on the day of the walk only

And.....

Latest news! The following walk is postponed to Wednesday 20 March!

Here are the details of Stuart's walk for 13 March:

A walk from the Old to the New: Neauphle-le-Château to Elancourt following the Elancourt stream

Distance: 19km
Terrain: several steepish climbs, a bit muddy in a few areas but nothing to worry about!

This week's walk takes us from the ancient village of Neauphle le Château to the new town of Elancourt created in the 1970s.

At Neauphle le Château we walk along the Grande Rue, the old road from Paris to Brittany, with its lovely old houses and then descend into the valley passing through the quaint stone villages of Pontchartrain and La Richarderie. We then follow the course of the Elancourt stream and several water-mills before ascending to a path in the woods which takes us to Elancourt.

I have found a lovely spot next to a small fishing lake for lunch where I can guarantee a seat for everyone. However, I estimate that we will reach here around 13.00 so if you feel that your stomach cannot last this long I suggest you pack a small pre-lunch!

At Elancourt we thread through the town along its series of lakes and woods. Our target is the 12th century Templar Commanderie with its magnificent church and surrounding park. Currently they are hosting an exhibition of contemporary art and design from the 1930's to recent times which is well worth visiting and it's gratuit! From here it is a short walk to La Verriere RER.

The weather forecast is for colder temperatures this week so please come suitably attired and, of course, bring your usual good humour and scintillating conversation! The attached photo goes with Stuart's walk.

Getting there:
9.58 Gare Montparnasse (DAPO direction Dreux)
10.31 Villiers Neauphle Pontchartrain (zone 5)
**I suggest we all meet in the last carriage**

Return:
La Verriere => Gare Montparnasse: each hour at '39
La Verriere => Versailles Chantier => Gare Montparnasse: each hour at '09

Best Regards,
Stuart
mobile: 06 19 85 25 56

The commanderie at Elancourt

Wednesday 6 March from one pond to another

Etang de Saint Cucufa

For those of you who are not slaloming down the black slopes of the Alps or the Pyrenees, Idfwalkfriends proposes a hike in the parks and woods of the Parisian suburbs which will be led by Mary Lynne. Here is her info:

From one pond to another

This week’s walk will take us through the Parc de St. Cloud and the Foret de la Malmaison in the Hauts de Seine.  The entire walk will be about 19 km, but it can be cut short at 14 km. We will pass through the Parc de Villeneuve and the Memorial to the Lafayette Escadrille, the charming village of Marnes-La-Coquette, the Haras de Jardy, through the town of Vaucresson and then on to the Bois de la Malmaison, also known as the Bois de Saint Cucufa, which Napoleon gave to Josephine in 1800. Then we will head through Garches to the Parc de Saint Cloud to catch the train back to Paris at the St. Cloud station, also zone 3. Those who want to stop after 14 km. can bail out at the Garches SNCF station.

Getting there:

We will start at the Garches SNCF train station, zone 3. Rendez vous at 10:00 am. Take the SNCF train at the Gare St. Lazare, Ligne L, direction St. Nom La Breteche,  leaves St. Lazare at 9:32, arrives at Garches at 9:52. This train passes through La Defense at 9:41. I will meet you at the Garches station. 

Return: trains leave Garches every half hour, at 23 and 53 minutes after the hour, and then more frequently during rush hours.

From St. Cloud, they run on average every 10-20 minutes. Three train lines and a tram line pass through St. Cloud so there will be many choices.

Please remember rain gear, sturdy shoes, and a picnic lunch. The terrain is quite muddy in places, which is to be expected with the weather we’ve had this winter. However I’m afraid that there are no muddy hills to surpass Judy’s from last month!

See you Wednesday!

Mary Lynne 

mlfich@yahoo.com
01 47 41 98 20
06 70 88 18 59