Discover Villeneuve-la-Garenne

Villeneuve-la-Garenne offers several reasons to stay: the Parc des Chanteraines, with opportunities to observe nature and activities involving animals; sections of the Seine riverbank; and local culture and history. If you are looking for a hotel, these themes can help you match your destination to your plans. First, consider whether you would like to spend time in the park, take a walk by the river or include a cultural activity in your itinerary.

Nature in the Parc des Chanteraines

The Chemin de fer des Chanteraines park railway takes visitors through the park for more than five kilometres. The full journey between “Les Vallons” and “Les Tilliers” takes more than an hour. The railway runs from March to October on Wednesdays and weekends; check the timetable before planning your visit.

At the Étang des Tilliers, the Parcours ornithologique has several birdwatching spots. You may see great crested grebes, kingfishers and cormorants, among other birds; what you actually see may vary. Birdwatching is the focus here, while the Ferme des Chanteraines offers other ways to explore nature and wildlife.

The Ferme des Chanteraines is open to everyone and offers nature education, opportunities to discover animals and age-appropriate activities. It includes a permaculture garden. Family workshops cover gardening, soil life, plants and insects; the workshop programme may change. You can therefore treat nature observation at the Étang and the hands-on gardening activities as different ways to shape your visit.

The Parcours santé-nature in the Parc départemental des Chanteraines includes routes ranging from less than one kilometre to ten kilometres. This gives you different route lengths to consider when planning, not walking times. You can compare these distances with the full park railway journey, which takes more than an hour, while the parcours provides guidance in terms of distance.

The Seine riverbank, walks and cycle route

Between the A86 bridge and the shipyards, the Quais d’Asnières and Quais Sisley form a 1,500-metre stretch of riverbank lined with notable rows of trees. The Quais Sisley are part of Villeneuve-la-Garenne’s cultural heritage. They invite you to go for a walk, observe the flora and fauna, or paint. This stretch of riverbank offers ways to experience the landscape on foot or from an artistic perspective.

The La Seine à Vélo cycle route is another specific reference point: in the Hauts-de-Seine département, it runs from Villeneuve-la-Garenne to Rueil-Malmaison. If you plan to ride this route, take current signage and route conditions into account.

Culture, history and activities

The “Marie-Louise” was originally called “L’Impressario” and was a 38-metre-long barge designed to carry goods. To convert it, it was split in the middle and extended by more than six metres. The resulting excursion boat is almost 45 metres long and was converted for cruises. Paris cruises from Villeneuve have been available since 1986. If you are planning a trip, check current availability.

The Église Saint-Joseph dates back to a chapel built on this site in 1914. Every year, the cultural centre Max-Juclier opens its doors to artists from all fields, who present exceptional exhibitions there. As the programme may change, check the current dates before planning a visit.

At the “L’Etang” station in the Parc des Chanteraines, the puppet theatre of the Compagnie Les Petits Bouffons de Paris stages traditional Guignol shows and adaptations of popular fairy tales. Performance dates may vary here too. The Centre équestre UCPA des Chanteraines offers riding lessons from age four and holiday courses from age six; check the current programme information if you are planning to take a course.

Discover more destinations: Boulogne-Billancourt, Levallois-Perret, Bois-Colombes, Issy-Les-Moulineaux, Nanterre, Neuilly-Sur-Seine, Fontenay-Aux-Roses, Saint-Cloud.

For the broader travel overview: Hauts-De-Seine.