In Presles, Neolithic monuments, a municipal wetland and hiking routes with different focuses sit side by side. The stone monuments vary in form and size; the routes offer either a specific timeframe and distance or a clear connection to Neolithic heritage. You can tailor your stay to culture, nature and activity.
Comparing Neolithic Monuments
Pierre Plate lies on the edge of the L’Isle-Adam forest. It is the most complete Neolithic covered gallery in Presles and measures 13 metres. Le Blanc Val, also a Neolithic covered gallery, is located on Mont-Joly and is about 6.5 metres long—roughly half the length of Pierre Plate.
The Coffre de Bellevue has a different design: a Neolithic megalithic burial chamber made from four limestone slabs. It contained the remains of three women, two men and three children. The Coffre is located in a landscaped clearing decorated with large boulders, behind the cemetery. The elongated galleries and the burial chamber formed from slabs thus provide contrasting features among Presles’s prehistoric monuments.
Church, Park and Wetland
Presles Church is also a historic place of interest: its northern section dates from the 12th and 13th centuries. Parc du château de Courcelles is on Rue Alexandre-Prachay and is protected as a “site inscrit” (listed site). The park is privately owned; before planning a visit, check whether access is possible and under what conditions.
Marais du Moulin Neuf is a municipal wetland and has been classified as an “Espace naturel sensible” (ENS, sensitive natural area) since 2017. Its open wetland habitats include reed beds, sedge marshes and ponds; they are rich in biodiversity. Alongside the stone monuments, it offers a distinct nature-focused experience shaped by a variety of wetland habitats.
Plan Your Hike and Journey
The “De Luzarches à Presles en passant par Royaumont!” route is moderately difficult, 20.5 kilometres long and takes three hours. It runs from one railway station to another. A second hiking option is “Les Trois Dolmens,” a route dedicated to Neolithic heritage. It starts at Église Saint-Germain-l’Auxerrois in Presles and ends at Presles-Courcelles station.
The key difference when choosing between the hikes is clear: the first route has a specified distance and duration; “Les Trois Dolmens” focuses on its prehistoric theme and its start and end points. If you want to plan around a specific time and distance, the route via Luzarches and Royaumont offers a set framework. For a hike focused on the Neolithic period, “Les Trois Dolmens” is the thematically oriented choice.
Presles-Courcelles is an SNCF stop on the Gare du Nord–Persan-Beaumont line. Check the timetable for your travel date. Presles has also completed its first cycling facility, between the station and the church.
Discover more destinations: Baillet-en-France, Soisy-Sous-Montmorency, Deuil-la-Barre, Saint-Gratien, Roissy-En-France, Chaussy, Auvers-Sur-Oise, Eaubonne.
For the regional travel overview: Val-D'oise.
