Yvelines is sporty!
Whether they are practiced or simply watched and appreciated, let's take a look at the trio of sports that you can discover, but also practice, during your visit to the Yvelines.
Cycling
Cycling plays an important role in Yvelines' sporting landscape. The Vélodrome National de Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines is a facility entirely dedicated to the sport, and the département's natural areas are ideal for "leisure cycling". It also boasts over 5,000 cycling and cycle-touring members. Famous races have been held in the département, anchoring the tradition in its history. In 1891, for example, the start of the first Paris-Brest race was given in Yvelines. 100 years later, its heir, the "Paris-Brest randonneur", was back at the start in Guyancourt. And since 1991, thousands of cyclists have set off from Yvelines to reach the tip of Brittany. Every year, the département also hosts the start of the Paris-Nice race and, of course, the Tour de France. In recent years, the roads and paths of Yvelines have been put to good use to develop cycling as a leisure activity. With 70,000 ha of forests and 2,755 ha of protected sensitive natural areas, Yvelines boasts an 850 km cycling network and is connected to two major itineraries: the London/Paris Avenue Verte (a 25 km section crossing Yvelines from Chatou to Conflans-Sainte-Honorine, via Saint-Germain-en-Laye, Sartrouville and Maisons-Laffitte) and the Véloscénie Paris/le Mont-Saint-Michel (77 km, part of which passes through the Haute Vallée de Chevreuse Regional Nature Park).
Golf
The département is also a great place to play golf. A sport of skill often practised as a leisure activity, and which until a few years ago had the reputation of being an expensive activity, it is now more accessible. With 30 golf courses spread across the département (representing 1,720 ha), the sport has really come into its own. Renowned worldwide for their quality and diversity, the courses in Yvelines host competitions of international prestige: the "Trophée Lancôme", held at the Saint-Nom-la-Bretèche golf course until 2003; the "Alstom Open de France" at the Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines national golf course - a site created by the French Golf Federation, designed to host the greatest international competitions as well as all licensed golfers, and which each year brings together the greatest players on the European professional circuit for four days; or the prestigious "Ryder Cup" in 2018, an international competition held every two years, alternating between European and American courses. But don't worry: you don't need to be a seasoned player to hit the little white ball, because between prestige golf courses, family golf courses and marked out courses, there are plenty of options that make golf accessible to all.
Riding
Yvelines is France's leading equestrian department, with over 20,000 licensed riders, more than 200 equestrian establishments, numerous competitions (CSO, CCE, dressage, TREC, etc.) and two racecourses (Rambouillet and Maisons-Laffitte). Riders can also take advantage of 450 km of equestrian trails and top-quality tourist sites (ranking2nd in France). The region also offers ideal conditions for outdoor equestrian sports and leisure activities such as trail riding, endurance, horse-ball, carriage driving and racing. Children will also be delighted by the many pony clubs, offering introductory riding lessons and other equestrian activities.
Outdoor activities
Hiking and walking
As part of a new lifestyle that seeks to reconnect with nature as much as with the body, walking and hiking are flourishing throughout France: a quarter of French people claim to be hikers, and half are walkers. So it's hardly surprising that the Yvelines département is a veritable paradise for enthusiasts of this natural sport. Naturally rich in forests, natural parks and waterways, its towns and villages offer city dwellers a chance to get some fresh air and escape the stress of the city for a while. There are many attractive itineraries to choose from, many of which can be reached without a car from the Transilien or RER stations - note also that the bus network is well thought-out. There are no fewer than forty well-marked circuits and trails - over 1,000 km of which are maintained by the Comité départemental des Yvelines of the Fédération française de la randonnée pédestre. So it's easy to be tempted by a walk with a change of scenery, such as the Triel-sur-Seine heritage trail, the Montfort-L'Amaury writers' cultural trail, or the Montcient hillsides and the Mole valley.
On horseback
At the heart of France's equestrian tradition, the Yvelines region abounds in horse-related leisure activities and facilities. These include, of course, Versailles and its magnificent stables, which you can discover during visits and performances by the Académie du Spectacle Equestre, but also the Haras National des Bréviaires, and even the Maisons-Laffitte racecourse and its betting. Of course, you can also put your riding skills to the test at one of the department's many riding schools. Open to the general public, they offer lessons, advanced courses, courses and competitions. And for those who prefer more leisurely strolls and rides, it's also possible to gallop through the forests, ride in a caravan along the trails or ride a pony for the little ones: there are several ways to discover the département on horseback. In Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines, for example, there are almost 20 kilometers of bridle paths in the Manet and Trappes woods and at the Etangs de la Minière, as well as dozens of kilometers of trails in the Chevreuse valley, not to mention the vast network of trails in the Rambouillet forest.
Cycling and mountain biking
Yvelines is a paradise for nature-lovers. As part of its commitment to an ambitious cycling policy, the Conseil général maintains and preserves an 850 km network of cycle paths to encourage travel and the discovery of its rich heritage. Cycling enthusiasts can cycle from Rambouillet to Méré on easy routes ranging from 6 to 25 km, with a choice of three loops. The Méridon forest offers a 16 km ride through the upper Chevreuse valley, with a detour to the Meridon and Breteuil châteaux. Other routes take you from Gargenville to Bonnières-sur-Seine, Saint-Rémy-lès-Chevreuse, Rambouillet and Saint-Germain-en-Laye intramuros. Many take advantage of the département's excellent rail links to pedal out and take the train back! So a Paris-Versailles (we recommend the circuit through the Meudon forest) or even a Paris-Rambouillet can be done in the morning, and the return in trains (which welcome bikes) the same evening!
All in the water
Swimming spots
There are five freshwater bathing sites in the Yvelines, all rigorously inspected by the department's Environmental Health Service: the Etangs de Hollande leisure park at Les Bréviaires, in the middle of the Rambouillet forest; the Boucles de la Seine leisure park at Moisson; the Saint-Arnoult bathing site at the Plage au Champ campsite, part of the Val de Seine 78 leisure park with the Etang du Rouillard; and the Etang des Bauches at Achères. The leisure island of Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines also lends itself to swimming, with a heated outdoor pool, and other water sports. Open to bathers from spring to autumn, these sites are generally supervised by first-aid professionals.
River tourism
Of the rivers that cross the Yvelines, only the Seine and Oise are navigable. With 100 km of river, the Seine is in the majority, with the most navigable waterways, while the Oise is in the minority, with only a few kilometers of river running through the département. All the waterways are therefore located to the north of Yvelines. With nine marinas to choose from, the département is a great place to cruise for pleasure. If you don't have your own boat, you can take advantage of the Croisière en Seine organization, which offers cruises departing from various points (Poissy, Meulan, Mantes-la-Jolie, Triel-sur-Seine...) to discover the heritage of this département, rich in history and boating history. In several stages, the route includes stops to visit the Île des impressionnistes, the Musée de la Batellerie in Conflans-Sainte-Honorine, the Maison Fournaise..
Thrills and spills
Baptisms of the air
The Yvelines region was home to a number of aviation pioneers who left their mark on the region. You can follow in their footsteps at the air bases of Toussus-le-Noble, Châteaufort, Beynes, Chavenay or Saint-Cyr-l'Ecole, where you can enjoy a first flight as well as in-depth training, including a pilot's license. In a plane, glider or helicopter, you can let yourself go or take the controls, depending on your level. It's a great way to discover the castles of the Yvelines and the Vallée de Chevreuse from the clouds. For paragliding or hang-gliding, you'll need to head for the bases at Elancourt, Viroflay or La Celle-Saint-Cloud, home to two specialist clubs. Paramotoring, on the other hand, can be practised at an airfield in Richebourg. Depending on your taste for adventure, this aircraft can also be used for longer or shorter flights. Finally, microlight flying is possible at the Saint-Cyr-l'Ecole base. Here, these fantastic aerial machines take to the skies over the Château de Versailles and many other heritage wonders. Thoiry also offers a similar base, and the Paraclub du Chesnay offers free-fall jumps for adrenalin enthusiasts, beginners and advanced alike. Tandem initiation, collective or individual jumping, all formulas are offered and supervised by certified professionals.
Climbing and accrobranche
The Ile de loisirs de Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines is the perfect place for accrobranche enthusiasts to test their agility. The 5 "Branches et Loisirs" courses are accessible from age 3 upwards: footbridges, monkey bridges, a 156 m zip line, Tarzan jumps, parrot trunks... will delight all those in search of adventure and thrills. It's also possible to take a night-time course equipped with a headlamp. Espace Rambouillet also offers another type of treetop adventure: the Odyssée Verte, a 300 m-long suspended trail through the forest, with educational activities to help you discover the flora and fauna, and all the riches of the forest. The best way to practice the art of climbing is to join a certified climbing club. There are around fifteen in the Yvelines region, offering beginners the chance to start out in gymnasiums fitted out with artificial walls - for example, at the Montbauron gymnasium in Versailles, or at Toussus-le-Noble. For an introduction to bouldering, at low heights and without insurance, you can go to Vertical'art in Montigny-le-Bretonneux, the largest climbing hall in the département. Clubs also offer outdoor outings at various locations in the département, such as the Maincourt boulders.
Whitewater sports
The Yvelines region offers year-round surfing, kayaking, rowing and water skiing at clubs in Port-Marly, Trappes, Hardricourt, Triel, Conflans-Sainte-Honorine, Andrésy, Mantes-la-Jolie and Versailles. In summer, the leisure centres also offer canoeing, sailing and rowing. These include Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines, with its sailing school; Val de Seine, with its artificial areas for surfing, wakeboarding, wakeskating and kneeboarding; and Mousson, located on a loop of the Seine and boasting a sandy beach, offering a whole range of water-related activities.
Motor sports
With four racing circuits, the Yvelines has nothing to envy other departments in the Ile-de-France region. In Trappes, the driving school offers driving and motorcycle courses, while Pilotage Passion lets you drive prestigious sports coupes on the famous Jean-Pierre Beltoise circuit. Quad biking and motocross are also available at Paradise Park in Les Mureaux.
