Everything for swimming..
There are six of them, and they form an impressive network: the Val Parisis conurbation's swimming pools are located throughout the region, and offer services that often go far beyond swimming in a pool. Every year, 500,000 users pass through the doors of these pools. Some have solariums, others have wellness facilities, while others are more geared towards sports (swimming, of course, but also aquagym or aquabike, for example). All offer lessons, and local schoolchildren are never far from one of these facilities. For a few weeks now, swimmers have been enjoying the brand-new AquaVal - Centre Aquatique Alice-Milliat: located in Taverny and Saint-Leu-la-Forêt, this huge sports complex boasts a 50-metre, 10-lane Olympic pool, a 25-metre second pool, a diving pit, a solarium and a wellness area. Designed by architects Rougerie+Tangram, it is one of the main sports facilities in the area, and will be named after Alice Milliat, the founder of the Women's World Games.
...and to float!
The Ski Nautique Club d'Herblay-sur-Seine invites you to practice this discipline on fine days, towed on the river! But the list of activities on offer at the club, which is open to all, doesn't end there: mono-skiing, wakeboarding and figure skating are all on offer! Still on the water, but more leisure-oriented, the club offers you the chance to indulge in the joys of towed buoys! Further south, in La Frette-sur-Seine, the SNF (Sports Nautiques de La Frette) club complements the one in the neighboring town, offering activities based around sailing. Discovery (including introductory courses for children aged 10 and over) or regattas on the Seine for amateurs and experienced sailors. The club also offers stand-up paddleboarding, another way of exploring the river. Last but not least, the future Seine Parisii district in Cormeilles-en-Parisis, on the banks of the river, will also offer water sports activities.
Races and hikes
Here, we combine running and trails: the best-known in the area is the Trail des Châtaignes, held in November. The Trail des Châtaignes, which is divided into several races of varying distances, takes you over the Buttes du Parisis in a natural setting where the gradient can sometimes be challenging. The races pass by the Fort de Cormeilles, a well-known heritage site, giving all the races a very special character. Last year's event featured two original features: a night race, and a duo race with your pet. Will you join last year's almost 2,000 registrants? In terms of road races, we recommend the Coteaux race in Saint-Leu-la-Forêt, which features some serious gradients. There are several distances to choose from: 1 and 2.2 kilometers (for younger runners), as well as 5 and 10 kilometers. Let's face it: the steep climbs mean that amateurs looking to improve their times will have to pass, but the conviviality of this not-to-be-missed event, which attracts around 500 participants in March, will be enhanced. And if you're not really interested in taking part in a competition, or if you're too frequent a runner to wait for an organized event, here are three community circuits where it's easy: along the Seine, via the GR2, between Herblay-sur-Seine and La Frette-sur-Seine; on the Buttes du Parisis or Montmorency, in one of the many urban parks; or on the edge of the market garden plain. Eventually, the Maubuisson forest promises to be another must-see destination, and there's also the hike from Saint-Leu-la-Forêt to the Isle-Adam Parmain train station. As far as hikes are concerned, you can of course do them on your own, but if you'd like to join a dedicated structure, then the Rando club de Taverny will probably be one of the most convivial, inviting you to come and walk in the Forêt de Montmorency on the first and third Wednesdays of each month.
Cycling
One of the region's many strengths is its cycling plan. The Val Parisis conurbation has launched a vast development project to enable both everyday cycling and more leisure-oriented activities. The aim is to create 200 kilometers of cycle paths, providing residents with an efficient network that links the various communes. Crossed by the Véloroute V33, which links Paris to Le Havre and Deauville, Val Parisis can now boast routes close to home. At the same time, a number of clubs invite you to take up cycling: the Association Sportive Herblay Cyclisme and the Avenir de Bessancourt are among them. Mountain bikers also have their annual rendez-vous: the Pont du diable mountain bike races in Saint-Leu-la-Forêt. In May, the meeting point is the Carrefour des 4 Cèdres, which will be the starting point for the races: one is dedicated to licensed and non-licensed riders, and others are more geared towards leisure or family outings. And last but not least, there's no shortage of places to buy equipment.
Equestrian sports
There are plenty of them, spread across the region, to suit all levels of riding ability: there are no fewer than 8 riding schools in the conurbation. If you don't own a horse yourself, you'll find that most of them are open to all, and offer the opportunity to practice, learn and take part in competitions, whatever your level. Equivil in Franconville, La Galop in Sannois, the Centre Equestre de la Montagne in Cormeilles-en-Parisis and the Centre Equestre de l'Espoir in Bessancourt, to name but a few, are among these. They are generally located in the immediate vicinity of green spaces and forests, for outdoor activities. Since July 2024, Bessancourt has been home to a major international brand specializing in equestrian sports equipment.
