Explore Saulx-Les-Chartreux through its parks, trails and distinctive historical heritage. Between the Parc des Sources, Lac de Saulx-les-Chartreux and the hiking trails, outings differ mainly in whether you are looking for a walk by the water, a route through varied landscapes or a glimpse of Romanesque architecture. Each place and trail has its own focus, so choose according to what you would like to discover during your stay.
Parks by the water and in green spaces
The Parc des Sources connects the water area with the Parc de la Jonchère. Its landscape includes an old forest, a wetland and a pond. The park thus combines natural features with a transition to another green space. It is fully accessible to people with reduced mobility. If accessibility is important when planning your outing, this specific information is a useful point of reference.
A footpath runs around Lac de Saulx-les-Chartreux, making it suitable for walks. The Parc Municipal de la Jonchère is freely accessible; picnics with the family, relaxation and jogging are possible there. This gives you different options for a break outdoors: a loop around the lake or time in the park, where you can relax, exercise or have a picnic. Before visiting the Parc Municipal, it is worth checking the latest access information.
Trails with different focuses
Circuit 2 – La Plaine de Saulx-les-Chartreux starts at the car park on Route de Champlan in Saulx-les-Chartreux. Circuit 3 – De l’Yvette au ru des Paradis passes through fields and forests, through the hamlet of Villiers and by the Saulx-les-Chartreux basin. Circuit 3 therefore offers a specific succession of different landscapes, while Circuit 2 is oriented around its named starting point. For Circuit 2, check the parking arrangements at the starting point in advance. It is also a good idea to check current trail conditions before setting out.
Le Tour de Saulx-les-Chartreux is a 14.3-kilometre hiking route. It starts at Lac de Saulx-les-Chartreux and passes through farmland, forest, the hamlet of Villiers and vegetable-growing areas. Fields, forest and Villiers also feature on Circuit 3. Circuit 3 additionally passes by the basin, while Le Tour starts at the lake and also includes vegetable-growing areas. The stated distance makes the length of this hiking route clear, while the footpath by the lake is specifically described as suitable for walks. This lets you choose between a walk by the water and a designated hiking route, depending on the kind of outing you have in mind.
Historical traces and heritage
The history of the area can also be read in its individual buildings. From 1264, the Moulin de Saulx-les-Chartreux became a banal mill, open to everyone. The Église de l’Assomption-de-la-Très-Sainte-Vierge was formerly a priory church; parts of the current building date from the Romanesque period. These are two distinct historical aspects: the mill’s former use and the church’s architectural history.
A decree dated 6 March 1926 listed the Église de l’Assomption-de-la-Très-Sainte-Vierge as a historic monument. The lake was designated a nature reserve in 1998. These dated details add historical and protected significance to the landscape. If you would like to include culture in your stay alongside trails and parks, the former priory church, its Romanesque features and the history of the banal mill offer different points of interest.
One destination is explicitly off limits: the former Lunézy sand quarry is not open to the public. Plan instead to visit the accessible parks and the trails described here, rather than including a visit to the former sand quarry.
Discover more destinations
Discover more destinations: Saint-Aubin, Épinay-Sur-Orge, Lardy, Boissy La Rivière, Saint-Germain-Lès-Corbeil, Viry-Châtillon, La Norville, Grigny
For the main travel overview: Essonne.
