The Église Saint-Jacques, trails along the Yerres, and the Forêt de Sénart reveal different sides of Montgeron. The town’s architectural and local history can be combined with walks and other outdoor activities. When planning your trip, it helps to decide first whether architecture and collections or time outdoors should be the main focus.
Church, Museum, and Historic Sites
The Église Saint-Jacques was rebuilt in 1855–1856 in the Romanesque Revival style, with some Gothic Revival motifs. It is fully protected as a Monument historique; it was listed on January 28, 2021. Decorative ornamental stained glass is part of its interior. In the Chapelle Saint-Joseph, a mosaic depicting the Flight into Egypt is located above the altar. The architecture and details give a visit to the church a clear historical focus.
The Musée municipal Josèphe Jacquiot presents its collections in a former manor house. They cover local history, medals, prints, and Egyptian objects. The museum hosts temporary exhibitions and lectures throughout the year. Free guided tours of the permanent and temporary exhibitions are available on request. If you would like to arrange a tour, you should therefore request one in advance.
Several other historic sites also tell stories of art and architecture. In 1902, Eugène Esnault-Pelterie transformed the Moulin de Senlis into a lavish residence inspired by the Gothic Revival style. Among those who were received there were François Coppée, Giacomo Puccini, and Leonetto Cappiello. The orangery at the Château de Rottembourg served Claude Monet as a studio; Édouard Manet and Alfred Sisley were also regular visitors to the château.
Walks and Outdoor Routes
La Pelouse stretches for 1.4 kilometers from Place de l’Europe to the Forêt de Sénart. This publicly accessible area is suitable for walks and has a long history: La Pelouse dates back to three avenues laid out between 1698 and 1708 from the courtyard of honor of the now-vanished Château de Montgeron and designed after the model of Versailles. Events held there throughout the year include Heritage Days, a holiday village, open-air cinema, and the town festival. A walk and a visit to an event can therefore each be a reason to stop by; the events mentioned take place at different times throughout the year.
The completed Liaison Verte is a walking and leisure area in Montgeron along the Yerres, running through the entire municipality. It can be accessed from Avenue du Maréchal Foch near the equestrian center and from Rue du Moulin de Senlis. The route can therefore be considered a destination in its own right for exercise and relaxation, separate from the town’s historic sites.
About 500 hectares of the Forêt de Sénart lie within Montgeron. Visitors can enjoy walks, hiking, jogging, cycling, inline skating, and horseback riding there. The many ponds provide habitats for several species of frogs and other amphibians, including protected species; typical forest animals are also found here. The size of the forest area and the range of activities make clear that a visit need not be limited to just one way of exploring the area.
The Ru de la Navette also shapes the landscape: its renaturalization was completed in September 2024, reopening the stream, which had previously run partly underground, and restoring several wetlands. A path from the Plaine de Chalandray follows the Ru to the Liaison Verte. As local conditions can change, it is advisable to check current trail conditions before setting out.
Getting There and Planning Your Trip
Montgeron-Crosne station is served by RER line D. Paris-Gare de Lyon can be reached on this line in about 20 minutes. As journey times and train services may change, check the current timetable for your travel date. During your stay in Montgeron, you can consider the cultural sites and trails as different itinerary options and choose the ones that suit your trip.
Discover more destinations: Breuillet, Arpajon, Épinay-Sur-Orge, Tigery, Corbeil-Essonnes, Méréville, Draveil, Montlhéry.
For the regional travel overview: Essonne.
