Cultural Yvelines
Top 10 must-see tourist attractions in the Yvelines!
Do you want to get away from it all without travelling too far? The Yvelines takes you on a journey: a journey through time, an artistic journey, a natural journey, a sporting journey... There's something for everyone in our top 10 must-see destinations in the Yvelines! Now is the time to discover or rediscover our selection of must-see destinations in the Yvelines!
1. Domaine de Versailles, a royal journey
Listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Château de Versailles, surrounded by its park and gardens, is one of the city’s finest achievements. The Musical Fountains Show... Between fountains and fireworks, a whole programme that’s sure to dazzle you!
A must? The Opéra Royal Since 1770, the Royal Opera of Versailles has been a fixture in the château’s pantheon of “people places”. This is where the last opera was performed for Louis XVI and Marie-Antoinette before they were taken to Paris. An architectural masterpiece and a feat of engineering, this showpiece offers a varied, enchanting programme of ballets, operas and top-quality concerts all year round.
2. The Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines regional leisure island in Trappes, sportingly yours
Sports, horse riding, thrills, water sports, beaches, nature walks, outdoor games… There’s plenty to do on the Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines leisure island situated in Trappes.
A must? An oriental night in a Mongolian yurt, right on the island!
3. Thoiry Zoo Safari, a tour of the savannah
The Thoiry Zoo Safari is a classic that you must visit at least once in your life. On an 8km route through the Yvelinoise savannah, you can watch from your car the ballet of wild animals that usually populate Nat Geo Wild documentaries. Thoiry is also a zoo with 750 animals to discover on foot, including the famous glass tunnel among the lions and tigers. And if you’re looking for a bit of height, a zip-line will take you over this Noah’s Ark while you pretend you’re Superman.
A must? In winter, the park becomes Thoiry Lumières Sauvages, adorned with monumental light structures, to be discovered along a magical trail.
4. Château de Breteuil at Choisel, Sleeping Beauty awakes
The Château de Breteuil, located in Choisel in the heart of the Upper Chevreuse Valley Regional Nature Park, invites you to discover the life of a family at the heart of French history. Owned by the de Breteuil family since 1712, a visit to the château promises to be an enchanting journey through history and the imaginary world of Perrault’s fairy tales…
A must? On Sundays from April to October, the Baladobus leaves from the Saint-Rémy-lès-Chevreuse station and takes you on a tour of places to visit, including the Château de Breteuil!
5. France Miniature in Elancourt, France for all ages
No one has yet succeeded in bottling Paris, but some have managed to fit the Hexagone into an amusement park in the shape of a map of France. At France Miniature, 2,000 models take you from the Eiffel Tower to the Nîmes Arena in just a few minutes, with a side trip to Mont Saint-Michel. A good way to plan future escapades outside the Paris Region and brush up on your geography.
A must? Bonus activities for children aged 4 and over, including the Zinzins circus, the Zotos Parade, and the Fort Boyard experience.
6. Ferme de Gally, a taste for good things in Saint-Cyr-l’Ecole
It’s a sure bet for family outings. Ferme de Gally in Saint-Cyr-l’Ecole has been committed to responsible agriculture for many years. There’s a grocery store well-stocked with local produce, a café-restaurant reminiscent of Central Perk for those nostalgic for Friends, farm animals, and workshops of all kinds, from bread-making to gardening. You probably have every intention of coming back.
A must? Open-air produce picking from late March to early November, thanks to the site’s pick-your-own activity!
7. The Bergerie Nationale in Rambouillet
Initiated by Louis XVI as a model farm, the Bergerie Nationale is one of our favourite places for family outings. The 220-hectare site features free-roaming Merino sheep, dairy cows, draught horses, rabbits and free-roaming dwarf goats. Replete with organic produce, La Bergerie sells its products in its grocery store (including a delicious mozza-ricotta sandwich) and regularly organises community debates on the environment and agriculture.
A must? Make the most of your trip to Rambouillet to visit its charming town, its château, a royal and then presidential residence, and its remarkable architecture, where the strata of time seem to have come together. Finally, complete your visit with a visit to the thatched Shell Cottage and the Queen’s Dairy.
8. The Island of the Impressionists in Chatou
Sisley, Monet, Renoir and Manet, the great Impressionist painters of the 19th century, all set up their easels here. The Fournaise museum remains from this period of splendour that made the place famous, and since September 2019, it has brought Renoir back to life with a brand new, innovative and immersive interactive trail, as well as the restaurant where his “Luncheon of the Boating Party” was painted. Plus a host of themed walks along the Seine!
A must? The Sequana association, which aims to revive the Seine’s nautical heritage by restoring emblematic boats of the era.
9. Espace Rambouillet in Sonchamp, the call of the forest
At Espace Rambouillet, created by the Office National des Forêts, you can enter 180 hectares of woodland in the hope of some interesting encounters. Deer and wild boar roam freely here, but you’ll need to be discreet if you want to enjoy their presence alongside you. Equally astonishing is the spectacle of the Eagle Forest, where birds of prey fly low overhead, while a little further on, you’re invited to take to the skies on the Green Odyssey, a 300-metre-long skywalk that slaloms between the treetops.
A must? From September to October, evening and early morning tours are organised to listen to the famous stag bellow. It’s guaranteed to be as moving as watching Bambi.
10. Musée d’Archéologie Nationale in Saint-Germain
Did you know that the Musée d’Archéologie Nationale in Saint-Germain-en-Laye is housed in a 12th-century château, the royal residence of Louis VI “the fat” and Henri II? In 1862, Napoleon III, an archaeology enthusiast, decided to create the Museum of Celtic and Gallo-Roman Antiquities. From the Paleolithic, some 2.6 million years ago, to the Early Middle Ages, the museum’s collections reconstruct our history.
A must? A number of workshops and themed guided tours are organised, and a campaign to digitise the collections provides a sneak preview of the rare items to be discovered.
And more!
It’s hard to sum up the Yvelines in just 10 places. It’s hard not to mention these other sites, which are the pride of their inhabitants and a source of curiosity for visitors:
- the Musée de la Batellerie (museum of inland navigation and waterways) in Conflans-Sainte-Honorine, the only one of its kind in France, where you can also stroll along the banks of the Seine
- the Butterfly House in La Queue-lez-Yvelines, where you can dream of having wings
- the newly renovated Donjon de Houdan, with its stunning panoramic views over the west of the Département
- the Hollande ponds at Les Bréviaires, where you can swim and from which a host of small canals and gullies emanate.
And so much more…
It’s your turn to (re)discover them!
Cast your vote!
So, apart from Versailles, which tourist or leisure site do you think is the most emblematic of Destination Yvelines?