Tour of the Paris region via Meaux and Versailles

Route details

A 254 km round trip through rural Île-de-France to the north and west of Paris. The Tour combines historic cities such as Meaux and Versailles with quiet Country roads through the Seine Valley.

This Round trip starts south of Paris in Viry-Châtillon, a town on the Seine in the Département Essonne, around 21 km from Paris city center. The Route first heads north-east to Meaux in the Seine-et-Marne region, crossing the flat Paris Basin with its characteristic agricultural landscapes.

The first section of the route runs mainly on departmental and national roads through the suburbs of Paris. You can expect a high volume of traffic here, especially during commuting times. The road surface is asphalted throughout and in good to medium condition.

Meaux, the largest city in the Seine-et-Marne department with around 57,000 inhabitants, is located on a loop of the Marne. The city is known as the capital of the Brie cheese region and is home to the Gothic Saint-Étienne Cathedral, whose construction lasted from the 12th to the 16th century.

From Meaux, the route leads northwest to Survilliers and on to Ennery in the Val-d'Oise department. This section offers mainly straight Country roads with gentle curves. The topography remains largely flat with slight undulations.

The western part of the Route passes through Les Mureaux, a town on the Seine in the department of Yvelines, about 40 km west of Paris. The town has historical links with the aerospace industry - components for the Ariane rocket are manufactured here and transported via the port on the Seine. The banks of the Seine can be found at the sailing port and have served as a motif for Impressionist painters.

The southern return route leads via Versailles in the Département of Yvelines. The Palace of Versailles with its extensive gardens is located around 20 km southwest of Paris and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Passage through Versailles is via side roads, although tourist traffic is to be expected in the vicinity of the palace.

The last section leads back to the starting point of Viry-Châtillon via Country roads. The entire route runs at altitudes between 32 and a maximum of 150 meters - classic flat country without any pass crossings.

The Tour is suitable for riders of all levels of experience. The roads are mostly wide with central reservations on the larger routes. There are no narrow sections or technically demanding passages. At weekends, you can expect heavier traffic on the arterial roads towards Paris. The best time for this Tour is during the week or early in the morning.