Visit the Vexin

Between Seine and Vexin: Nature and Heritage



Immerse yourself in the charms of this picturesque region, nestled between verdant landscapes, authentic villages and cultural gems. Whether you're an enthusiast of hiking, art, gastronomy or simply in search of tranquillity, the Vexin will seduce you with its diversity and authenticity. Explore with us the many facets of this corner of paradise in the heart of France. Here are just a few examples of what you can discover during your stay:



Musée de la Batellerie et des voies navigables (inland waterways museum)



Located in Conflans-Sainte-Honorine, this museum traces the history of inland waterway transport on the Seine and offers an interesting insight into the life of the bargemen.

Musée des impressionnismes Giverny



This little corner of paradise has inspired artists such as Claude Monet, who created his famous water garden and colorful house here. Explore the lush gardens that brought masterpieces to life and stroll along the iconic lily ponds.

Nautical activities



If you're interested in water sports, the Seine and Vexin rivers offer boating, canoeing and fishing



Local events calendar



Find out about activities and events taking place in the Vexin during your visit, such as local markets, craft fairs, guided walks and cultural festivals

Tasting of Vexin products



Enjoy the local gastronomy by discovering producers of regional products such as honey, cheeses, oils, terrines and other local specialties

Bike routes



The French Vexin may be a plateau, but it's criss-crossed by numerous valleys that will delight the most athletic of cyclists! For those who prefer a more leisurely pace, the valley bottoms are the perfect place to discover the French Vexin without too much effort.

Day trips, long-distance itineraries or mountain bike tours, the choice is yours!




Hiking



The Parc Naturel Régional du Vexin is ideal for nature walks and hikes. You'll find signposted trails through varied landscapes, fields and picturesque villages

Picturesque villages



Explore famous Vexin villages such as La Roche-Guyon, Giverny and Auvers-sur-Oise, which have inspired many artists. La Roche-Guyon is particularly famous for its château and terraced gardens.

But there are also many charming, picturesque villages between the Seine and the Vexin...

Château de Villarceaux



This 18th-century castle boasts beautiful formal and formal English gardens. You can stroll through the gardens and visit the château itself when it's open to the public



Terre de Seine



The Seine River forms the southern boundary of the French Vexin. In the Yvelinoise part of the Regional Nature Park, some twenty rural communes reveal a rich heritage thanks to the Sentiers du Patrimoine®. Between the sun-drenched hillsides of the Montcient and the wetlands of the Guernes loop, discover a captivating flora and fauna.

Tasting of local products



Enjoy the local gastronomy by discovering regional products such as cheese, ciders, wines and other local specialities

Observation of flora and fauna



The Parc Naturel Régional du Vexin is home to a wide variety of flora and fauna. You may have the opportunity to observe birds and other animals in their natural habitat

Destination Vexin français: the regional nature park's tourism website



Immerse yourself in the charms of this picturesque region, nestled between verdant landscapes, authentic villages and cultural gems. Whether you're an enthusiast of hiking, art, gastronomy or simply in search of tranquillity, the Vexin will seduce you with its diversity and authenticity. Explore with us the many facets of this corner of paradise in the heart of France

Terres de Seine: the Seine Valley tourist site



The Seine River forms the southern boundary of the French Vexin. In the Yvelinoise part of the Regional Nature Park, some twenty rural communes reveal a rich heritage thanks to the Sentiers du Patrimoine®. Between the sun-drenched hillsides of the Montcient and the wetlands of the Guernes loop, discover a captivating flora and fauna.

Walks with Vexin guides



REGISTRATION compulsory, directly with the guide. Meeting point to be communicated upon registration.

EQUIPMENT Walkingshoes . Comfortable clothing, weather permitting.


Olivier Gervot 0685557174 [email protected]

Laure Hach e 0688405709 [email protected]

Gilles Lemaire 0686860186 [email protected]

Sandrine Lemaire 0608280215 [email protected]

Julien Masson 0681094982 [email protected]

Michel Saintoul 0684900497 [email protected]

Claire Vincent-Gardie 0670127330 [email protected]


Guides Facebook page

Agenda September 2023



Sunday, September 3 Marines with Laure
Sunday walk "Vagabondages à Marines
"
Travel is a state of mind; sometimes we travel right next door. Even in the city, if you look carefully, you'll find wonders. Let's discover with Laure a surprising heritage, sometimes exotic plants, the flora of the sidelines, these ignored plants that fight for their survival. It's a chance to wander for a few hours, to reminisce about the men who themselves stopped off in Marines on their way through the Vexin, and to take a look at the local life that revolved around travel and travelers. (10h-12h30, 4 km, 7€, free for children under 10)


Saturday, September 9 Champagne-sur-Oise with Michel
Special Chef's tour "From one station to another, from Champagne to Valmondois
"
Ready to embark on a day of change of scenery in the Ile-de-France region? Don't miss the departure from Champagne station to Valmondois. Of course, the return journey is on foot, via a varied itinerary featuring mills and dovecotes, princes and peasants, old ferries and railroads, fishermen and writers... Passing through Jouy-le-Comte and Parmain, you'll visit three interesting churches and pass through four villages. Michel will talk about the history and destiny of these villages, each very different from the next, and the common appeal they held for the townsfolk of the Belle Epoque. (9.10am-4.30pm, €12, train ticket included, bring your own picnic, accessible by train)


Sunday, September 10 Guiry-en-Vexin with Michel
Sunday walk "Four thousand years of history
"
This valley has always attracted mankind, who, from prehistoric times to modern times, have left remarkable traces here. It's only natural, then, that archaeologists, historians and hikers should still be interested in it. Michel suggests a short all-terrain hike, half-rural, half-forest. We'll retrace 4,000 years of history, discovering a beautiful old church, a château and its grounds that still bear the scars of the centuries they've passed through, and even more distant vestiges of a past when history didn't yet exist. (9h30-12h, 5 km, 7€, free for children under 10)


Wednesday September 13 Longuesse with Sandrine
Chef's speciality walk "Longuesse au pas de l'âne
" (Longuesse at donkey pace )
A special time to get to know the donkey, too little known, sometimes mocked, but which has so much to offer... and to surprise. Sandrine welcomes you to her village and invites you to go for a walk with this wonderful companion, discovering the Aubette valley and its little treasures. Reading the traces of the past through the architecture of the present, taking an interest in the flora and landscapes - for the youngest, it's more fun with a donkey. In fact, families can choose to guide their own donkey on this tour. The more the merrier... (2:30-5pm, €10/person, one donkey per family €7/person and €40 extra for the donkey)


Sunday September 17 Saint-Clair-sur-Epte with Claire
Sunday walk "From Saint-Clair-sur-Epte to Château-sur-Epte
"
If stones could talk, the stones of Château-sur-Epte would have a lot to say. Imagine a thousand years of conflicts, battles, fortresses, kings, lords and so much more...! These are the mysteries that Claire will unveil on this walk between two quiet villages on either side of the Epte, the natural border between Ile-de-France and Normandy, in a particularly unspoilt environment. The tour culminates in an exclusive guided tour of the château, which is undergoing a thousand and one renovations. (10 a.m.-12.30 p.m., 5 km, €9, free for children under 10, accompanied by a French sign language interpreter)


Saturday September 23 Saint-Clair-sur-Epte with Olivier
Special chef's walk "Game of Thrones on the edge of Vexin
"
A threat hangs over the village of Saint-Clair-sur-Epte... To counter the curse of ancient times, there's only one way: find the shield of the Order of the O and unravel its mystery! Are you ready, as a family or with friends, to take up this challenge? Are you ready to collaborate with the other descendants of local historical clans to solve the riddles along the way? This treasure hunt, which requires observation, deduction and insight, will take you through history and immerse you in the heritage of this village on the edge of the Vexin region. Along the banks of the Epte or in front of ancient facades, Olivier will take you on a journey between myth and reality. Mystery, mystery... (2.30pm-4.30pm, €10, €5 under 18)


Sunday, September 24 Genainville with Olivier
Sunday stroll "Welcome to Chatnoirville!
A theatrical stroll in the footsteps of Rodolphe Salis"
It's an essential part of Parisian tourist folklore: the famous Chat Noir poster. Do you remember the name on it? It's Rodolphe Salis, founder of the Montmartre cabaret "Le Chat Noir". This truculent character was a resident of Genainville, a pretty, peaceful village in the French Vexin region, where he certainly stood out! During a theatrical stroll, Olivier takes on the role of this whimsical cabaret owner, offering a colorful and original (re)discovery of the history and heritage of his beloved village. Welcome to Chatnoirville-en-Vexin! (10h-12h30, 4 km, 7€, free for children under 10)


Saturday, September 30 Vétheuil with Claire
Special Chef's walk "In the footsteps of Claude Monet in Vétheuil
"
"Color is my daily obsession, my joy and my torment." Before Giverny, there was Vétheuil, where Claude Monet stayed for three years, from 1878 to 1881, and where he painted over 180 canvases. To learn more about the life and work of the master of Impressionism during this period, follow your guide Claire. In a gentle, friendly way, she'll take you through the streets of Vétheuil, in search of clues and answers! As you stroll through this village perched amphitheatrically on the Seine, you'll accompany Monet on an immersive journey, adopting the panoramas he himself, a few decades apart, immortalized. At the end of the tour, children will leave with a small Impressionist booklet (2.30 - 4.30 pm, €10, €5 for children)