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This hike, just an hour from Paris, is the most artistic in the area!

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The Editor

© Cnap / Marc Domage.

If you, like us, love great hiking ideas around the capital, you’ve come to the right place. Île-de-France is full of treasures of all kinds, and this time we’re suggesting a getaway in the heart of a forest, where you’ll come face-to-face with a statue over 22 meters tall…

Just 1 hour from Paris — by car, two by public transport — you'll find the charming little town of Milly-la-Forêt, a place that feels like it's from another era, nestled beside the vast massif of Trois Pignons and its exceptional landscapes. It's the perfect destination to relax and enjoy the fresh air, and it also hides a unique surprise: a one-of-a-kind artwork among the most surprising in France: The Cyclop by Jean Tinguely.


A Fascinating Creation

What if we told you that just a few hours from the capital, there's a giant statue covered in mirrors, hidden in the heart of a forest? It's a surprising scenario that could make you think it's the beginning of a fairy tale!

a Disney movie, we admit, that is indeed very real. To enjoy this as unusual as astonishing meeting, head to Milly-la-Forêt, and more specifically to the bois des Pauvres.

Down there, a dazzling giant awaits you. It all began secretly in 1969 and was completed over 25 years later, this 22.5-meter sculpture is one of a kind. Dreamed up by Jean Tinguely, his wife Niki de Saint Phalle, and their artist friends (Bernhard Luginbühl, Rico Weber, Daniel Spoerri...), this masterpiece features thousands of mirrors on the outside, and a fascinating maze of pathways, sound machines, animated sculptures, and improbable installations inside.


A village with understated charm

After roaming the Bois des Pauvres to try and uncover the secrets of this mysterious piece, it’s time to head back to Milly-la-Forêt to explore the area. A town full of charm, thanks to its famous 15th-century hall.

century, its castle, its bridge, its various laundries, all cuter than the others, or even its chapel decorated by Jean Cocteau himself, who lived and died in the village. In fact, he's not the only celebrity to have made this place home, as Christian Dior also had a house here for several years.

The Cyclop
The Woods of the Poor – Milly-la-Forêt (91490)
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