Travel guide Yvelines

There are several wildlife parks in the département, with Thoiry's ZooSafari a must-see with over 800 wild and exotic animals. As for insects, the Serre aux Papillons in La Queue-lez-Yvelines offers a colorful stroll. Finally, the Bergerie Nationale de Rambouillet proudly displays its Merino cows.

The Yvelines region boasts numerous châteaux and estates that bear witness to French history: the royal estates of Versailles, Saint-Germain-en-Laye, Maisons and Rambouillet; the Château de Breteuil, which inspired Perrault's fairy tales; the Château de Médan, painted by Cézanne; and the Château de Monte-Cristo, built by Alexandre Dumas in Port-Marly.

The Haute Vallée de Chevreuse Regional Nature Park is one of the region's 4 protected areas. It comprises 55 communes in the Yvelines and Essonne departments, all with exceptional environments to protect. Immerse yourself in the countryside, between charming villages, historic castles, hiking trails and natural sites.

It's one of the most important facets of the Yvelines landscape, a "land of cycling excellence" since 2019. The starting point for the Paris-Nice and Paris-Brest races, cycling is also showcased at the Vélodrome National de Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines. Cycle tourism is also one of the best ways to discover the département at your own pace.

Yvelines has a strong equestrian tradition, as demonstrated by the Grande Ecurie du Château de Versailles, the Haras National des Bréviaires, and the Maisons-Laffitte training center for racehorses. The département ranks^1st in the Île-de-France equestrian rankings, and^2nd in the national rankings.

While over 30% of the Yvelines' territory is forested, 80% is also made up of natural areas. Numerous walks and hikes take you through the forests and woods, the two regional nature parks and the department's nature reserves. A great way to discover hidden treasures, local flora and fauna!

The oldest French cookbook, Le Viandier, was written in the Yvelines by Taillevent, cook to kings Charles V and Charles VI. The département is also home to a wide variety of culinary creations - pommes soufflées, sauce béarnaise, Paris-Brest... - and original recipes such as purée Saint-Germain or Viroflay omelette.

The Seine was a favorite playground for many Impressionist painters, who took pleasure in depicting their strolls along the river's banks in paintings that are now famous. Free walks allow you to discover the works of Monet, Sisley, Pissarro and Renoir - on foot, in the museum and even by boat!

There are two breeds of hen typical of the département: the Houdan, or "Normandy hen", which can be recognized by its double crest and the feathery crest on its head; and its neighbor, the Mantes hen, which shares its black plumage with white pebbles. Both have been preserved over the years by passionate breeders.

Until 1964, this was the name given to the 78 département, which then encompassed Paris, Essonne, Hauts-de-Seine, Seine-Saint-Denis, Val-de-Marne, Val-d'Oise and the future Yvelines. The new name was proposed by Versailles poet Jehan Despert, in reference to the Rambouillet forest, also known as the "Yveline forest" in the singular!

While the town is best known for its magnificent château and gardens, it is also the capital of the département. Once the capital of the Sun King, Versailles is a multi-faceted city that offers a journey into the heart of French history. Winks to the city's royal past await you around every corner.

Straddling the French departments of Yvelines and Val d'Oise, the Parc naturel régional du Vexin français, which has been awarded the "Pays d'art et d'histoire" label, extends over 98 communes and more than 70,000 hectares of protected land. A limestone plateau undulating through several rivers, the Vexin landscape is marked by cereal farming and a rich rural heritage.