Essonne combines rivers, forests and signposted trails with historic sites, museums and leisure venues. Those wishing to rent a holiday apartment in Essonne can then continue their accommodation search.
Nature and trails
Essonne has 49,000 hectares of natural areas, including 42,000 hectares of forest, more than 400 kilometres of rivers and 2,500 kilometres of trails. The visitor landscape is shaped by rivers such as the Seine, Juine, Orge, Yerres and Essonne. The Parc naturel régional du Gâtinais français includes 36 municipalities in Essonne and 33 municipalities in Seine-et-Marne.
Several signposted trails combine landscape and interpretation. The Sentier d’interprétation agricole is an easy 10.3-kilometre trail with eight agricultural information boards and an activity booklet for children. The Sentier de découverte sur la forêt is a one-kilometre forest educational trail accessible to visitors with motor, visual, auditory or mental disabilities. The 3.5-kilometre Sentier de découverte sur l’art rupestre explores rock art from the Palaeolithic to the present day.
There are also designated cycling routes: the Circuits des artistes des Parc offer three routes: 54 kilometres for hybrid bikes, 55 kilometres for mountain bikes and a shorter 45-kilometre option. The Entre Juine et Renarde route includes 28 kilometres of signposted trails in the Juine Valley. Covering 20 hectares, the Domaine départemental de Montauger forms a varied ecological landscape with orchards, ponds, marshes, slopes, water basins and streams.
Culture and history
The Domaine départemental de Chamarande is a historic monument site with a 98-hectare garden designated as a “Jardin remarquable”. At the Tour de Montlhéry, 138 steps lead to a viewpoint overlooking the town and its surroundings.
The house museum of the Château de Dourdan is located in an 18th-century salt storehouse and presents collections on local history, historic furniture and the castle. The Église Saint-Sulpice de Favières is a Rayonnant Gothic church with 13th-century stained-glass windows and a 12th-century miracle chapel. The Musée français de la Photographie preserves more than 25,000 objects, one million photographs, a library and a unique technical documentary collection.
Dourdan and Étampes are described as royal towns in the Essonne department.
Leisure
The Île de Loisirs d’Étampes offers wave swimming, walking and fitness trails, mini-golf, archery, climbing and a toboggan run. The Île de Loisirs Le Port aux Cerises in Draveil offers sports and leisure activities all year round.
Getting there
Essonne has a TGV station in Massy, connected to the European rail network. The department is crossed by the A6 and A10 motorways; Orly Airport lies north of Essonne.
Places
More local pages: Brières-Les-Scelles, Le Val St. Germain, Villeneuve-Sur-Auvers, Yerres, Viry-Châtillon, Villejust, Vigneux-Sur-Seine, Verrières-Le-Buisson, Saulx-Les-Chartreux, Saint-Pierre-Du-Perray, Saint-Germain-Lès-Corbeil, Saclay, Palaiseau, Orsay, Morangis, Le Coudray-Montceaux, La Ville-Du-Bois, Grigny, Fleury-Mérogis, Évry, Étiolles, Épinay-Sur-Orge.
Courcouronnes, Corbeil-Essonnes, Chilly-Mazarin, Bures-Sur-Yvette, Brétigny-Sur-Orge, Athis-Mons, Arpajon, Les Ulis, Morigny-Champigny, Linas, Méréville, Abbéville-La-Rivière, Mennecy, Marolles-En-Hurepoix, Igny, Villebon-Sur-Yvette, Guillerval, Bruyères-Le-Châtel, Varennes-Jarcy, Tigery, Morsang-Sur-Orge, Itteville.
Quincy-Sous-Sénart, Saint-Sulpice-De-Favières, Angerville, Savigny-Sur-Orge, Saint-Michel-Sur-Orge, Sainte-Geneviève-Des-Bois, Boutigny-Sur-Essonne, Étréchy, Paray-Vieille-Poste, Boissy-Sous-Saint-Yon, Crosne, Sermaise, Maisse, Breuillet, Saint-Aubin, Soisy-Sur-École, La Norville, Moigny-Sur-École, Milly-La-Forêt, Chevannes, Lisses, Saint-Germain-Lès-Arpajon, Chalou-Moulineux, Champmotteux, Gironville-Sur-Essonne, Avrainville, Boissy La Rivière, Lardy, Bouville, Fontenay-lès-Briis, Forges-les-Bains, Bouray-sur-Juine, Juvisy-sur-Orge, Gif-sur-Yvette, Saint-Chéron, Saintry-sur-Seine, Longjumeau, Villiers-sur-Orge, Gometz-le-Châtel, Janvry, Oncy-sur-École, Montgeron, Ormoy, Courances, Vayres-sur-Essonne, Villemoisson-sur-Orge.
