The Seine of the Impressionists, cycling tour

Starting point – Fournaise Hamlet

The itinerary starts at the hamlet of Fournaise, on Ile des Impressionnistes. Besides the Musée Fournaise, the hamlet has two restaurants – Les Rives de la Courtille and Maison Fournaise – the water station and the workshop where old boats are restored by the Sequana association. Next stop, Chatou bridge. Take the access ramp up to bridge – it’s quite a climb!

Stage 1 – Chatou Bridge

Cross the bridge on the cycle path. Pause to admire the Chatou dam on your right. A little further on, pass close to the church of Notre Dame. Then head for Chatou town hall, via the side path.

After Les Canotiers restaurant, take the road on your right. After the square, turn right onto Rue Ernest Bousson.
At the traffic lights, turn left onto Rue du Docteur Rochefort, then right onto Rue Esther Lacroix towards “quartier Gambetta”, until you reach Avenue Gambetta. At the stop sign, turn right into Rue de Seine which leads to the towpath from which you can reach Carrières-sur-Seine. Follow the towpath to reach Carrières-sur-Seine. The Conseil Général (departmental council) of Yvelines has built cycle paths and walkways alongside 2.2 km of the river at Carrières-sur-Seine.

Stage 2 – The towpath

Quai Charles de Gaulle. Leave the towpath and follow Quai Charles de Gaulle. On your left are the Town Hall gardens.

Stage 3 – Parc de la Mairie at Carrières-sur-Seine

At the park, you’ll see one of the painting reproductions of the Impressionist Trail, Renoir tour.

Stage 4 – Carrières-sur-Seine river port

The market gardens: cycle past the market gardens of Carrières on your left. The great chefs of Paris know them well. On the left, take the path which follows the railway track. Leave the towpath and head towards Carrières town centre.
Cross the Bezons road and head for the roundabout on your left.
As you continue towards Bezons, you’ll find yourself in the next département! Yes, Carrières-sur-Seine is located on the edge of Val d’Oise. Take Allée du Collège, then Rue Paul Doumer. A pleasant cycle path takes you across this residential area. Turn right onto Rue des Fermettes. At the end of Rue Paul Doumer, turn right onto Rue des Fermettes. It’s an uphill climb! On your left is the Panoramic restaurant, a fine-food establishment which we warmly recommend to visitors to Carrières.

Stage 5 – Carrara City

Turn left onto Rue du Maréchal Foch. Then left onto Boulevard Maurice Berteaux. Follow the boulevard down to the village of Carrières. Don’t miss the beautiful views of La Défense on your right. Continue along Avenue Gabriel Péri. The avenue continues downhill to the village.

Stage 6 – Carrières-sur-Seine village

Turn left onto Rue Victor Hugo. Cycle alongside the town hall park, which is below you on the left. The park, created during the golden age of the “French-style” garden by one of Le Nôtre’s students, is a beautiful example of the use of perspective. It has been listed since 1996 among France’s most beautiful gardens. Turn left into Rue de l’Abreuvoir, to return to the banks of the Seine. Take the towpath on the left.

Stage 7 – Carrières-sur-Seine wash house

Return to the tranquillity of the Seine riverbank and follow the towpath to Chatou! Take the time to observe the wildlife which is protected here. Leave the towpath and follow Quai du Nymphée. Watch out for traffic, you are now on a normal road!

Stage 8 – Chatou dam

On your left you can see the Chatou dam. The current building, inaugurated in 2014, is one of the biggest operations ever undertaken by Voies Navigables de France. This dam, like the one at Bougival, maintains the water level of the Seine as far as the dam of Suresnes, ensuring that large river vessels can reach the Parisian conurbation 24 hours a day. The previous building dated from 1933. Join Rue du Port. This stretch of road leading to Chatou bridge is closed on Sundays. Join Quai Maxime Laubeuf. Leave the road and return to the calm riverbank of the Seine!

Stage 9 – Croissy-sur-Seine riverbank

The signs indicate that you are on the Paris-London Avenue Verte. Continue to Croissy-sur-Seine! Take Rue de l’Ecluse on your right. Leave the Seine and head towards Croissy-sur-Seine town centre! Take Promenade Guy de Maupassant on your right. Cross the intersection towards Avenue Emile Augier. Emile Augier was a member of the French Academy, a poet and a playwright. Like Victor Hugo, he was one of the greatest playwrights of his time. He lived in Croissy. Take Rue de la Seine on your left.

Then rue Maurice Berteaux on your left.

At the crossroads, cross Rue des Ponts towards Rue au Mètre.
At the beginning of the street you can see on the wall on your right a standard metre model. This is a copy of the original marble model dating from the launch of the decimal metric system! The original is kept at the town hall. Turn right into Rue de la Plaine to reach the town centre. You will find yourself on Boulevard Hostachy, Croissy’s main street lined with restaurants and cafés, a bookshop, the boutique “Une Place en Ville” and a florists, among others. Half-way down Boulevard Hostachy, turn left towards Saint-Léonard church.

Stage 10 – Notre Dame church and Croissy-sur-Seine town centre

Opposite the town hall, turn right. At the traffic lights, turn right into Rue Paul Demange, then left onto Rue Péron. The Hôtel de Ville (Croissy’s fourth town hall since the Revolution), inaugurated in November 2000, was built by architects Xavier Fabre, Vincent Speller and Philippe Pumain. You will arrive at Place d’Aligre. Turn left onto Grande Rue. Continue on Avenue des Tilleuls and, once past the Chatou sign, turn left onto Avenue Paul Doumer. Opposite no. 4 on Avenue des Tilleuls, you’ll see a 19th-century cross and the six round pierced stones that served as supports for the gallows at the time of the Lords of Croissy…

Stage 11 – Chatou RER train station

A spot of walking? Take the underpass and cross Place Maurice Berteaux
The market takes place on Wednesday and Saturday mornings! At the other end of the square, follow Avenue d’Aligre and then the side road, continuing straight on to the bridge!

Stage 12 – Notre Dame church at Chatou

Well done, you’ve reached the end of the itinerary!