The best traffic-free bike rides around Bois-Colombes

Located between the districts of Paris-La Défense and Nanterre, the Parc du Chemin-de-l'Ile gives pride of place to water. Its filtering basins, fed by the Seine, are omnipresent. The site also has the appearance of a landscaped park. The regular, mineral shapes of the basins gradually give way to meadows, to the winding banks of the counter-ditch, to isolated trees and hedges of various species. This park was designed so that visitors can relax in a place made up of lawns, pontoons by the water, large meadows where fauna and flora evolve without constraint, filtering basins, aquatic gardens, as well as family gardens. Children are not forgotten with three play areas.

On the Île de Chatou, the Maison Fournaise is a former riverside inn and hotel. It now houses a restaurant. In 1880, Renoir wrote, "It is the prettiest place in the vicinity of Paris." Renoir painted about thirty canvases in Chatou. The most famous painting is Luncheon of the Boating Party, which was painted from the restaurant's balcony. Next door, the municipal museum houses collections on the history of the site and of boating, one of the first modern leisure activities on the water.

The story of this 18th-century hunting lodge is truly incredible. Completed in 1775, the royal lodge at La Muette has hosted Louis XV, Louis XVI, Napoleon I, and Queen Victoria. It miraculously escaped the bombings of the Second World War. From 1970 onwards, the lodge fell into disrepair. Owned by the National Forestry Office (ONF), which was unable to maintain it, it was sold in 2014. In 2019, restoration work began to return it to its former glory by 2024.

The railway bridge that overlooks the tracks and its graffiti... the essential passage between two parts of the forest

Today we went on a beautiful hike near 🌞 in the Parisian forest. With an area of approximately 846 hectares in the west of the city, the Bois de Boulogne can be considered one of the two 'lungs' of Paris and the second largest green space in terms of area, after the Bois de Vincennes in the east. In October, many cyclamens bloom here along the hiking trail. A hike all the way around the lake with a visit to the island is a wonderful one. A free ferry ride is offered to get to the island. Highly recommended. We took a short break at LE CHALET DES ILES. Afterwards, we hiked a short distance on the island. Surprisingly, the heron was very friendly. I had the impression that it was expecting to be photographed 😄. It immediately struck a pose; I've never been so close to a heron before. There are always great photo opportunities along the hike, with small, babbling brooks in a very idyllic setting.

Bois de Boulogne Paris, France The two trees (240 cm) are a gift from Swedish industry to the Parisians and symbolize love and unity. This bronze statue was inaugurated in 1994. With this donation, the investor – a Swedish industrial holding company – and the Wallenberg family acknowledge the historical significance of relations between France and Sweden. At the tip of the small island in Lake Superior, this symbol of love has become a favorite place for Parisians to rest, row, and contemplate for bird lovers. There are great places to sit and relax. The sculpture is beautiful to behold and highly recommended 👍 to visit.

Another wonderful moment that simply takes you away 🥰. First, we took a break on a wonderful viewing bench and enjoyed the view of the Les Deux Arbes sculpture and the surrounding area 😍. It was hard for us to leave this place 😔. But the day is drawing to a close. This short hike in the Bois de Boulogne 💙 is absolutely spectacular and highly recommended.

The view from across the shore was spectacular, but to see it from here is incredible. To see so much romance in one statue is indescribably beautiful.