Located at the entrance to the Chevreuse Valley, Villebon-Sur-Yvette is defined by its green surroundings, including the Bois des Gelles and the banks of the Yvette. You can plan your visit around a range of interests: exercise on fitness trails, nature watching, golf or architectural history. The specific activities range from two trails with stated distances to a biodiversity trail and a golf course.
Explore green spaces and trails
The fitness trail in the Bois des Gelles is open to families and outdoor fitness enthusiasts looking to exercise in a natural setting. It offers two routes, measuring 1.65 km and 2.1 km respectively. At the exercise stations, signs explain the movements and give both the distance covered and the elevation difference between the stations. This gives you specific information about the routes and stations when comparing the two trails.
The biodiversity trail offers a different focus: with 18 information signs, it leads through the town’s green spaces. Along the Promenade de l’Yvette, it provides opportunities to observe birds and plants. It also leads to a wetland behind the MJC Boby-Lapointe and to an area where flower bulbs are allowed to naturalise in the Côteaux district. While the fitness trail combines exercise with workout stations, this route draws attention to plants and different types of green space.
Villa Bona and the history of horticulture
The Villa Bona educational orchard recalls the history of vegetable growing in Villebon-Sur-Yvette. Traditional vegetable and horticultural varieties were planted there to create a garden for enjoyment. Educational information signs, with QR codes and audio access, complement the garden. There is also a raised planting bed accessible to people with reduced mobility. Villa Bona thus combines the history of horticulture with present-day interpretation, focusing on traditional varieties, the garden as a place to enjoy, and the information available on site.
Golf as a travel focus in its own right
Golf de l’Yvette is located at the Centre Sportif Saint-Exupéry, Rue Las Rosas de Madrid, in Villebon-Sur-Yvette. The facilities include an introduction to golf, as well as the opportunity to play recreationally or competitively. Golf lessons and preparation courses for the Carte Verte are available, including group, individual and themed courses. Golf de l’Yvette is accessible regardless of physical ability. Before your visit, check the current operating arrangements, course formats and availability.
For planning purposes, the difference between these themes makes for a practical comparison: the green spaces offer trails and nature watching, while golf has its own courses and playing opportunities. Villebon-Sur-Yvette also has five cycle routes established by the Communauté Paris-Saclay.
Church, château and architectural heritage
The present-day Church of Saint-Côme-et-Saint-Damien was built in 1587 as a chapel for the château. Château de Villebon was damaged by fire in 1611; its reconstruction took more than thirty years. In 1920, it became the property of the École de l’Île-de-France.
Other notable elements of the architectural heritage include the Haras de Villebon. The two water towers of Courtabœuf received the “Architecture Contemporaine Remarquable” label on 18 October 2024. Another historic landmark is the Grand Dôme de Villebon-Sur-Yvette: it was built in 1994 for the Jeux de la Francophonie and funded by the Conseil Général de l’Essonne. Together, these sites reflect different aspects of the area’s history, from the former château chapel and the history of the château to more recent buildings and the Grand Dôme.
Discover more destinations: Montgeron, Villeneuve-Sur-Auvers, Dourdan, Chilly-Mazarin, La Ville-Du-Bois, Saulx-Les-Chartreux, Le Coudray-Montceaux, Corbeil-Essonnes.
See the broader travel overview: Essonne.
