The Chemin de fer des Chanteraines miniature railway runs for more than five kilometres through the park. Together with birdwatching at Étang des Tilliers, walks along the Seine riverbanks and cultural attractions, Villeneuve-la-Garenne offers different ways to experience nature and local history.

Park, birdwatching and exercise

The full ride on the miniature railway between “Les Vallons” and “Les Tilliers” takes more than an hour. The train runs on Wednesdays and weekends from March to October. Check the timetable in advance if you plan to include the ride in your itinerary.

There are several birdwatching spots along the Parcours ornithologique at Étang des Tilliers. You can observe, among other species, great crested grebes, kingfishers and cormorants; which species you see can vary. The Parcours santé-nature in the Parc départemental des Chanteraines offers routes ranging from less than one kilometre to ten kilometres. These give you different ways to plan: a specific journey time is given for the railway, while you can use the route lengths to plan your visit to the trail.

For cycling, La Seine à Vélo runs through the Hauts-de-Seine département from Villeneuve-la-Garenne to Rueil-Malmaison. Check route conditions and signage before setting out.

Walks along the Seine riverbanks

The Quais d’Asnières and Quais Sisley form a 1,500-metre stretch along the Seine between the A86 bridge and the shipyards, lined with notable rows of trees. The Quais Sisley are part of Villeneuve-la-Garenne’s heritage. Here, you can go for a walk, observe the flora and fauna or paint. Alongside the park routes, riverside paths and nature observation therefore offer separate interests to choose from when planning your day.

Nature and activities

The Ferme des Chanteraines is open to everyone and offers nature education, opportunities to discover animals, and activities suited to different ages. The farm also has a permaculture garden. Family workshops cover gardening, soil life, plants and insects; the programme may change. Check the specific activities in advance.

The Centre équestre UCPA des Chanteraines offers riding lessons from age four and holiday courses from age six. These programmes may also change, so check the current offer before planning your visit.

Culture and local history

At the “L’Etang” station in the Parc des Chanteraines, the puppet theatre run by Compagnie Les Petits Bouffons de Paris presents traditional Guignol shows as well as adaptations of popular fairy tales. Dates may vary.

Every year, the municipal Max-Juclier cultural centre presents exceptional exhibitions by artists from all fields. As the programme may change, check the dates before your visit. The Église Saint-Joseph also tells the story of the area: it stands on the site of a chapel built in 1914.

The “Marie-Louise” has a story of its own. Originally named “L’Impressario”, it was a 38-metre-long péniche used to transport goods. For its conversion, it was cut in two, lengthened by more than six metres and turned into an almost 45-metre-long excursion boat for cruises. The history of Paris cruises departing from Villeneuve dates back to 1986; check in advance whether such cruises are currently available.

Discover more destinations: Antony, Levallois-Perret, La Garenne-Colombes, Vanves, Clamart, Meudon, Sèvres, Chaville.

For the regional travel overview: Hauts-De-Seine.