Clichy-sous-Bois: Culture, History and Nature

Clichy-sous-Bois brings together historic buildings and contemporary art with a nature park and a walking and cycling trail. To plan your stay, you can first decide whether history and culture or landscape and outdoor activities better match your interests. The buildings offer insight into different historical periods, while the park offers opportunities to enjoy nature and leisure activities. This makes it possible to link your hotel search with the question of which themes you would like to explore during your stay.

Historic Buildings and Contemporary Art

The Orangerie was built in the second half of the 18th century and added to the register of historic monuments in 1972. The Chapelle Notre-Dame-des-Anges dates from the 13th century: it was built in remembrance of a miracle and has been an annual pilgrimage site ever since. The church of Saint-Denis also has a long building history. It was first built at the beginning of the 13th century, rebuilt in 1641 and restored several times since; it is part of the city’s historic heritage. Comparing the buildings reveals different historical layers: while the Orangerie and the church are shaped by their construction and restoration histories, the chapel is also associated with an annual pilgrimage.

The Ateliers Médicis provide a contemporary perspective. They are a platform for the creation and dissemination of contemporary art and offer artistic and cultural outreach activities every day. Since June 2018, they have welcomed artists and visitors in a first building designed by the architectural collective Encore Heureux. Clichy-sous-Bois thus brings together different cultural themes: historic architecture, religious tradition and the presentation of contemporary art.

Landscape and Leisure at the Parc départemental de la Fosse-Maussoin

The Parc départemental de la Fosse-Maussoin is a remaining part of the Bondy Forest and was created on the site of a former gypsum quarry in Clichy-sous-Bois. Its landscape includes woodland, calcareous grasslands and young wetlands; the park is part of the Natura 2000 network. Woodland, open calcareous grasslands and wetlands form distinct landscape areas here. The site’s history as a former quarry adds another dimension to its present-day landscape.

The park has facilities for play, sports, relaxation and family picnics. It caters to a range of leisure interests, from physical activity to a quieter break outdoors. If you plan to use a particular facility, check in advance whether it is currently available.

Walking and Cycling Trail Along the Aqueduct

Another option for travellers interested in physical activity is the Promenade de la Dhuys. The walking and cycling trail is 27.5 kilometres long and follows part of the aqueduct that has supplied Paris with water since 1865. Its length gives you a concrete idea of the distance, while its route highlights the connection between the trail and the history of the water supply. The Promenade is a longer route, distinct from the leisure activities in the park, which include play, sports, relaxation and family picnics.

For the broader travel overview: Seine-Saint-Denis.