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This hike on the outskirts of Paris takes you past 2 of the region's most beautiful castles

undefined undefined 12 juillet 2025 undefined 12h00

The Editor

© Pack-Shot / Shutterstock

As you know, just like us, you love great hiking and walking ideas around the capital. This time, however, we have a little exception! Instead of greenery, we're suggesting an urban hike to discover some architectural gems right near the capital.

This week, head to the Yvelines, located to the west of the capital, for a lovely 3-hour stroll along the Seine. Over a ten-kilometer route, you'll be treated to stunning views filled with architectural gems and breathtaking viewpoints of the capital and its famous river. And the very good news is that to kick off this adventure, you don’t need to spend hours in the car; just a few minutes on the RER A, heading to Saint-Germain-en-Laye!


A Royal City

Hardly out of the RER station, you’ll find yourself face to face with one of the most beautiful castles in the region, marking the starting point of our walk. We discover this monument with its surprising pentagon shape, remarkable thanks to its hundreds of arches, which was home to the kings until the construction of Versailles. Louis VI, Saint Louis, François I, and Louis XIV, had many occupants, and they were all just as famous as each other.

After exploring the interior and the French-style gardens designed by Le Nôtre (who also gave us Versailles and Vaux-le-Vicomte), we move on to the historic center of Saint-Germain, especially the church and the Place du Marché-Neuf. After a stop at the Maurice-Denis departmental museum, located in a former priory, we end this first half in style by heading to the Grande Terrasse. We stroll along the 2 km promenade to enjoy breathtaking views of Paris. At Rond-Royal, we hop onto bus number 2 for the next leg of our adventure.


An illustrious city

We take this little break to recharge our energy (a quick nap, meditation break, or a picnic – it’s up to you!), before heading down to Maisons-Laffitte. And once again, we start our first.

The spot will be the magnificent castle. Built in 1651, it is one of the first masterpieces of French classicism. A building with a very interesting history, which we highly recommend visiting the interiors.

Next up is the Royal Hotel, the Petit Parc, and finally the Maisons-Laffitte Park, the highlight of our adventure. In this unique residential area, you'll discover a series of villas in all styles, each more impressive than the next. There's an American house, a cubist villa, and even a residence dating back to the July Monarchy—these are architectural gems from a bygone era waiting for you here. We finish in style with the Doulton House, built for the 1878 World's Fair, before making our way back to the RER station (line A, as always), and heading back to the capital.