Versailles, the sun of Yvelines

Stay in Saint-Quentin, land of the 2024 Games

At the gateway to Paris and just a stone's throw from the Château de Versailles, Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines has no shortage of resources to ensure you have an excellent stay for the 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games! Discover without further delay the architectural delights as well as the leisure and sports facilities that make up its charm.

DAY 1 The New Town of Saint-Quentin

The Town Museum

The day begins with a visit to the Town Museum in Montigny-le-Bretonneux. This museum invites you to discover the history of the Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines area and the considerable changes it has undergone in recent years, through a wide range of fun and educational activities: themed exhibitions, lectures, workshops, guided tours, permanent collections… A visit that will particularly appeal to lovers of architecture, design and contemporary art.

Visit the New Town

After theory, practice! The Town Museum offers discovery trails for you to follow on foot or by bike, and to download free of charge for a real urban epic in the heart of the New Town. During your visit, you’ll discover the various architectural delights that have developed over the course of the 20th century, and more specifically in recent decades.

To begin with, Les Engouffrements, Les Marches and La Perspective, three sculptures that offer new perspectives between city and nature, with water as their central theme.

Note: La Perspective is a major work by the Hungarian artist Marta Pan, whose sculptures can be seen all over the world, and whose home in Saint-Rémy-les-Chevreuse is open to the public.

Another must-see monument: The city gates of Paris. This metal arch, covered with sheets of Murano blue glass and glittering like a snakeskin, is installed at the entrance to the town, forming a complete circle as it is reflected in a pool. An international artist, this was Kowalski’s major public work and his ultimate creation before his death.

But Saint-Quentin is also, and above all, the playground for Ricardo Bofill and his team. Several of his creations are well worth a visit, including Les Arcades, facing the artificial lake of La Sourderie, and Le Viaduc, overlooking the lake. On the Voisins-le-Bretonneux side, Le Temple and Les Templettes complete the ensemble. Ricardo Bofill is said to have been inspired by the Château de Versailles, hence the nickname “Versailles for the People”.

The National Velodrome

Now it’s time to meet up in front of…the National Velodrome! The National Velodrome was inaugurated in 2014 in response to the shortage of facilities of this type, capable of hosting international competitions. The design was entrusted to Ralph Schürmann, one of the world’s leading track designers and architect of the Beijing Olympic velodrome. The size of the roof is immense for a vault, since it is 87m long, with no support point in the middle. To enhance the visibility of the entrance to the facility, the architect added a canopy over the roof. The exterior of the velodrome, and in particular the well-proportioned forecourt, was designed to host high-profile sporting events. It was therefore only natural that the site should be chosen as the event site for the 2024 Olympic Games. Here, in front of this temple of cycling, it’s time to…cross our fingers for our athletes!

The Saint-Quentin theatre

How about a show to round off the day? A reference venue in the region, the Saint-Quentin theatre is one of the most complete facilities in the Paris region, and for many years has played a key role in strengthening the artistic and creative identity of Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines. Delivered in 1993 by Stanislas Fiszer, this monumental theatre in Montigny-le-Bretonneux marks the completion of the town centre.

DAY 2 Sport and entertainment in Saint-Quentin

France Miniature in Elancourt.

Discover France’s greatest monuments on an area of over 5 hectares following the paths traced on a map of France. Nearly 120 models are displayed in a landscaped setting! There’s no better way to brush up on your geography than by locating all the event sites for the 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games in France! Starting with the mountain bike track, just 2.3km from where you are, on the Elancourt hill!

For lunch, the France Miniature park’s restaurant offers a range of options.

For the last leg of this tour, visit the Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines regional leisure island. Located in a 600-hectare forest park, Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines regional leisure island offers a wide range of outdoor activities all year round, as well as food, refreshments and accommodation! Water playgrounds, BaladEnigm, walks, canoeing-kayaking, sailing centre, equestrian centre – pony club, educational farm, fitness trail, mini-golf, paddle, adventure trail in the trees, orienteering trail, fishing, national nature reserve, beach sports, teepees, bicycles and rowing… The perfect place to organise your own Olympics!