Around 140,000 hectares of forest and some 4,400 kilometres of waterways shape Seine-et-Marne. Alongside these, royal residences, a medieval town and regional cheese-making traditions offer a variety of discoveries. The contrasts range from the history of the court and trade to wetlands, marked trails and activities on the water. If you are planning a trip and looking for somewhere to stay, you can first decide whether to focus on heritage, nature or a combination of the two.
Royal sites and medieval trading history
The Palace and Park of Fontainebleau and the town of Provins are UNESCO-listed; the Pays de Fontainebleau is designated a biosphere reserve. French kings used the palace and park of Fontainebleau from the 12th century onwards; under François I, the estate was redesigned in the 16th century. Provins is a medieval UNESCO World Heritage town and a unique testament to the Champagne fairs of the 12th and 13th centuries. Fontainebleau brings together the history of the French kings and the redesign under François I; Provins offers a glimpse of the fairs and their medieval setting.
The underground of Provins also tells a story of labour: its underground galleries originated as a quarry for fuller's earth, a material used in the town's cloth industry. Regular guided tours of the underground galleries are available; check the times before your visit. Provins is served by Line P, with direct trains from Paris-Est. Check the timetable for your travel date.
Architecture and museums
Vaux-le-Vicomte is a masterpiece of 17th-century classical architecture. The Carriage Museum traces the development of vehicles, horses and related trades. Cultural events are part of the programme at Château de Blandy-les-Tours; the museum displays and visitor route have been modernised. The events programme may change seasonally. The département operates five museums in Saint-Cyr-sur-Morin, Vulaines-sur-Seine, Barbizon, Égreville and Nemours.
Forests, wetlands and trails
A survey published in 2025 lists around thirty Espaces naturels sensibles as open to the public; check access to the individual site before you travel. The Marais d'Épisy in the Loing Valley includes a pond, a wet meadow, a reed bed and a peat bog. You should also check access before visiting this natural area.
The Chemin des Roses is a 17-kilometre trail for walkers, horse riders and cyclists. This is distinct from the département-wide network of more than 3,000 kilometres of marked cycling and walking trails: you can choose between a single named route and an extensive network offering a variety of outings. Activities include climbing, as well as rowing, canoeing and kayaking on the waterways. Local providers and conditions may vary.
Brie de Melun and regional provenance
Brie de Melun is an AOP-protected soft cheese made exclusively from raw cow's milk. It is produced, processed and matured in Seine-et-Marne and neighbouring municipalities in Aube and Yonne. Compared with Brie de Meaux, Brie de Melun is smaller, measuring 27 to 28 centimetres; it can mature for up to ten weeks. The cheese's provenance, production and ageing offer a different way to experience the region than its châteaux, museums or nature trails.
Discover more destinations: Verdelot, Boissise-La-Bertrand, Cerneux, Crécy-La-Chapelle, Fericy, Lizines, Lognes, Magny-Le-Hongre, Montévrain, Ocquerre, Torcy, Avon, Vert-Saint-Denis, Ury, Serris, Sancy-Lès-Meaux, Samois-Sur-Seine, Saint-Thibault-Des-Vignes, Rubelles, Ozoir-La-Ferrière, Noisiel, Nemours, Nanteuil-Lès-Meaux, Mouroux, Moissy-Cramayel, Melun, Meaux, Marne-La-Vallée, Mareuil-Lès-Meaux, Lieusaint, Le Mesnil-Amelot, Le Mée-Sur-Seine, Lagny, Isles-Lès-Villenoy, Gressy, Fontenay-Trésigny, Fontainebleau, Émerainville, Dammarie-Les-Lys, Claye-Souilly, Chelles, Chaumes-En-Brie, Bussy-Saint-Georges, Brie-Comte-Robert, Barbizon, Provins, Coulommes, Cannes-Ecluse, Savigny-Le-Temple, Jossigny, La Ferté-Sous-Jouarre, Collégien, Saint-Augustin, Passy-Sur-Seine, Thomery, Lésigny, Champs-Sur-Marne, Arbonne-La-Forêt, Mauregard, La Madeleine-Sur-Loing, Ferrières-En-Brie, Chessy, Boutigny, Saint-Fargeau-Ponthierry, Longperrier, Pontault-Combault, Saint-Germain-Sur-Ecole, Bailly-Romainvilliers, Vaires-Sur-Marne, Jouarre, Bray-Sur-Seine, Seine-Port, Crèvecoeur-En-Brie, Coupvray, Chailly-En-Bière, Penchard, Jutigny, Coulommiers, Chartrettes, Esmans, Chanteloup-En-Brie, Saint-Mard, Varreddes, Les Chapelles-Bourbon, Le Pin, Bois-Le-Roi, Saint-Siméon, Bourron-Marlotte, Vaux-Le-Pénil, Aulnoy, Champagne-Sur-Seine, Fontenailles, Saint-Germain-Laval, Esbly, Valence-En-Brie, Orly-Sur-Morin, Saint-Germain-Sur-Morin, Neufmoutiers-En-Brie, Montry, Chalifert, Châtres, Trilport, Servon, Longueville, La Haute-Maison, Villeparisis, La Chapelle-Gauthier, Touquin, Salins, Saint-Mammès, Amillis, Chartronges, Champeaux, La Rochette, Chamigny, Vernou-La-Celle-Sur-Seine, Vaudoy-En-Brie, Pommeuse, Boissy-Le-Châtel, Faremoutiers, Nonville, Rouvres, Échouboulains, Villiers-Sur-Morin, Montigny-Sur-Loing, Noisy-Sur-École, Bougligny, Bassevelle, Saint-Sauveur-Lès-Bray, Réau, La Chapelle-Rablais, Saint-Mesmes, Châtenay-Sur-Seine, Coulombs-En-Valois, Coubert, Le Châtelet-En-Brie, Montceaux-Lès-Provins, Rebais, Lizy-Sur-Ourcq, Ville-Saint-Jacques, Tancrou, Perthes, Maisoncelles-En-Brie, Villeneuve-Sous-Dammartin, La Ferté-Gaucher, Baby, Beautheil, Veneux-les-Sablons, Quincy-Voisins, Carnetin, Soignolles-en-Brie, Bannost-Villegagnon, Villevaudé, Égreville, Château-Landon, Saint-Jean-les-Deux-Jumeaux, Égligny, Thoury-Férottes, Thénisy, Souppes-sur-Loing, Machault, Chambry, Guermantes, Moret-Loing-et-Orvanne, Dammartin-en-Goële, Vulaines-sur-Seine, Gretz-Armainvilliers, Mitry-Mory, Sainte-Colombe, La Chapelle-la-Reine, Villeneuve-Saint-Denis, Saint-Martin-du-Boschet, Rozay-en-Brie, Saint-Cyr-sur-Morin, Choisy-en-Brie, Vulaines-lès-Provins, Juilly, Cesson, Mary-sur-Marne, Coutevroult, Courtry, Fontains, Annet-sur-Marne, Paley, Marolles-sur-Seine, Lissy, Chailly-en-Brie, Le Plessis-Placy, Aufferville, Léchelle, Larchant, Dampmart, Montereau-Fault-Yonne, Maison-Rouge, Grandpuits-Bailly-Carrois, Bouleurs, Germigny-l'Évêque, Tousson, Favières, Crégy-lès-Meaux, Saint-Ouen-en-Brie, Guérard, Grez-sur-Loing, Amponville, Cocherel.
For the overview of the wider region: Ile-De-France.
