THE FOREST OF MARLY
State-owned oak and chestnut forest offering a variety of walking trails in Marly-le-Roi.
Former hunting grounds for the kings of France, and later for the presidents of the Republic, the state forest of Marly-le-Roi was known as the forêt de Cruye until the 18th century. Its territory also experienced several significant events: a land consolidation under Louis XIV; and enormous damage in 1935 with the creation of the Autoroute de Normandie, which pierced the entire length of the forest from east to west, breaking the beautiful order of its star-crossed avenues. Covering an area of 2,000 hectares, the forest extends partly on a plateau overlooking the Seine. The 230 hectares reserved for presidential hunting until 1995 have been transformed into the Ecole de la Campagne et de la Forêt, managed by the ONF.
The forest is mainly made up of oak and chestnut trees, while the ponds that line it maintain an active fauna. The forest is a delight for walkers, offering a magnificent, fertile green landscape and a variety of walking trails. From sports trails in Louveciennes, Marly and Rocquencourt to bridle paths and beautiful viewpoints (Val de Cruye, Bellevue), you can discover a rich past through a heritage steeped in a long period of French history: the ruins of the Montjoie fortress, the Joyenval abbey, the Roye fortified castle and the Désert de Retz garden. For nature lovers, it's easy to see all kinds of wild animals in their natural habitat: pheasants, roe deer..
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