From the Terrasse du Fécheray at the foot of Mont-Valérien, you can see the Eiffel Tower, the Panthéon and Montmartre. Suresnes combines this view of Parisian landmarks with the history of the Mémorial de la France combattante, paths on Mont-Valérien, the social urban planning of the garden city and its own wine tradition. There are various ways to explore: a free guided tour lasting about an hour and a half, walking paths and a moderately challenging 6.7-kilometre circular hike.
The history of remembrance at Mont-Valérien
The Mémorial de la France combattante is associated with a precisely dated event: on 17 and 18 June 1960, the remains of 16 people were transferred to the burial crypt, and General de Gaulle inaugurated the memorial. Mont-Valérien is also home to the permanent exhibition « Résistance et répression, 1940–1944 ».
The Mont-Valérien memorial site is open Tuesday to Sunday and offers free guided tours lasting approximately 1.5 hours. Reservations are possible and recommended. Check the current opening times before your trip. This lets you allow roughly enough time for the guided visit while also considering the exhibition as a way to explore the subject independently.
Walking paths, a circular hike and views
At Mont-Valérien, you can walk along paths, including the Promenade Jacques-Baumel. Another option is the circular hike « Le Mont-Valérien et ses alentours »: it is rated moderately challenging, is 6.7 kilometres long and has a total elevation gain of 180 metres. It starts and ends at the Suresnes Longchamps tram stop.
The details distinguish the circular hike as a specific route option from a stroll along the named paths. The Terrasse du Fécheray at the foot of Mont-Valérien offers views of Parisian sights such as the Eiffel Tower, the Panthéon and Montmartre. Mont-Valérien therefore brings together different interests: a marked circular route, walks and a viewpoint with named landmarks. No walking time is specified for the circular hike.
Garden city and social urban planning
The Cité-jardins de Suresnes was established in the 1920s at the initiative of Henri Sellier. It combines housing, green spaces and public facilities, making it an example of social urban planning. The development has been awarded the « Patrimoine d’intérêt régional » label.
Another way to explore this subject is the MUS – Musée d’histoire Urbaine et Sociale de Suresnes. It is a « Musée de France » and is dedicated to the social urban planning of the interwar period. The Cité-jardins illustrates the planning approach through its combination of housing, greenery and public facilities; the museum focuses on social urban planning as a subject. Anyone interested in urban history can include both a specific example and a themed museum visit in their travel plans.
Vineyard and wine tradition
The Suresnes vineyard is planted with Chardonnay and Sauvignon grapes. The Association du Clos du Pas Saint-Maurice offers regular free cellar tours attended by the winemaker. There is another expression of the wine tradition, too: in association with the Confrérie du vin de Suresnes, the Association organizes ceremonial induction ceremonies twice a year.
The cellar tours and ceremonies are different ways to discover Suresnes wine: one offers a glimpse inside the cellar, while the other is part of a recurring tradition. When looking for a hotel in Suresnes, these themes can help shape the kind of stay you want—whether you want to focus mainly on memorial history, urban planning, paths on Mont-Valérien or wine tradition.
Discover more destinations: Sceaux, Boulogne-Billancourt, Nanterre, Ville-DĘĽavray, Issy-Les-Moulineaux, Clichy, Bourg-La-Reine, Levallois-Perret.
For the overview of the wider region: Hauts-De-Seine.
