Between hiking trails and heritage
Numerous circuits and loops criss-cross the département, passing through forests, plains, hedged farmland, riverbanks and villages with their authentic heritage: washhouses, mills, castles, etc. The département has made a point of promoting this heritage. The department has made it a point of honour to promote this heritage. Its Comité départemental de randonnée pédestre (departmental hiking committee) offers a wide range of signposted circuits covering almost 3,800 kilometers. For cyclists, mountain bikers and mountain bikers, the forest of Fontainebleau abounds with suitable itineraries. The Office National des Forêts has published a booklet entitled "Tour du Massif à Vélo" (TMF), offering a range of enchanting landscapes (forests, rocky chaos and flatlands) and beautiful villages. The Scandibérique links Bois-le-Roi and Souppes-sur-Loing. The route is far from lacking in charm, with picnic areas, trees and riverbanks... to be explored in groups or on your own. The circuit may even tempt some to branch off towards the superb Episy marsh or the village of Saint-Mammès. Wellness and heritage also come together in Courpalay, with the Ronde des Lavoirs. Every spring, this initiative offers 6 to 20 km circuits along the route of ancient wash-houses and magnificent villages, all in a great atmosphere. One of the highlights is the Rando des 3 châteaux. For more than a decade, this annual event has attracted tens of thousands of participants, amateurs and experts alike. Organized by the Département de Seine-et-Marne, Seine-et-Marne Attractivité and Coderando 77, it offers the chance to explore the region at your own pace and to discover, as the name suggests, three jewels of Seine-et-Marne's architectural heritage (the châteaux of Blandy-les-Tours, Vaux-le-Vicomte and Fontainebleau).
Close to nature
As everyone knows, the Fontainebleau forest is the ideal place to climb, with almost 30,000 boulders, 270 sectors and 280 routes, suitable for everyone, expert or beginner. World-renowned for its lithic treasures, the famous forest massif has long been a favorite haunt of climbers. In the past, climbing was only used as training for mountaineering, but today it has become a sport in its own right, and is now included in the disciplines of the Olympic Games! Whether you come to learn or to improve your skills, you'll never fail to be seduced by these places, which the Département strives to protect. To this end, it has drawn up a charter of good practice. Those wishing to start out in complete safety can contact the Tourist Office, which will suggest a number of service providers who are enthusiasts, connoisseurs of the massif and committed to preserving the environment. Finally, the forest environment has more recently opened up to another activity, accrobranche. Fun and invigorating, this activity now has a number of dedicated parks, including Sainte-Assise Aventure, Chichoune Accroforest and Acccrobranches de Jablines. As close as possible to the canopy, far from the couch, but taking care to choose the course best suited to your physical condition!
On the track, with a horse or 9 HP or more!
It's hard to describe the delights of the Fontainebleau forest without mentioning the Hippodrome de la Solle. Nestled in the heart of the forest, this is the oldest racecourse in France. It hosts numerous events every year. A feverish atmosphere is guaranteed as the horses and their jockeys approach the finish line! You can also admire the colorful headdresses and proud steeds on the show ring, or even the stables during Open Days. But the equestrian world is also one of forest trails, far from the crowds. The département boasts over fifty equestrian centers, including the Grand Parquet in Fontainebleau. While it hosts numerous events, it is also open to the general public. The 30-hectare site can accommodate up to 10,000 people. Younger riders will find various centers where they can be introduced to the equestrian world, notably in Chailly-en-Bière, with its human-scale Pony-Club and family atmosphere. Other facilities, such as the Ânerie Bacotte on the edge of the Fontainebleau forest, open their doors to younger riders and even to people with disabilities, with activities designed to improve the relationship between man and the environment. For those looking for even more thrills and speed, go-karting is the ideal activity. Several centers are spread across the region. Moissy-Cramayel is home to France's largest circuit, with two tracks of 830 m and 810 m, and 9 and 14 horsepower machines. Finally, Dammaries-lès-Lys is home to the largest indoor complex, with almost 4,000 m² of space and a 500-meter circuit. For even more adrenalin, others can take to the skies at local flying clubs in Esbly and Lognes, for example.
Nautical activities
Irrigated by almost 2,000 kilometers of waterways, Seine-et-Marne is an ideal location for water-based activities, from canoeing and kayaking to paddling and lazing on the beach. The Jablines-Annet leisure park, a Natura 2000-registered site with the Pavillon Bleu label, offers a wide range of green activities, including swimming, pedal boating, windsurfing and kayaking, as well as tennis and table tennis. The Seine-et-Marne region can also be explored by water. Lovers of the banks of the Loing and Seine rivers, for example, can take to the water in electric boats without a license, and discover some magnificent scenery. In Melun, Hisséo offers a trip along the Affolantes, while Marin d'Eau Douce offers a different way of discovering Meaux. On the Grand Morin side of the river, there are several opportunities to experience a real moment of escape in the heart of nature, or even to dock at Crécy-la-Chapelle, the aptly named Venise briarde. But some will prefer gentler methods of escape, curled up in a Spa with hammam, pool or whirlpool. The département has no shortage of such oases of relaxation!
