Want to get high?
How about taking the opportunity to discover rock climbing?
In vogue in recent years, this sport has it all: in addition to combining physical exercise and outdoor activity, it allows you to exercise while clearing your head.
The winning combo.
But that's not all.
Climbing is also a collective and intergenerational activity.
Each route has its own difficulty rating, so you can climb with your kids, friends, parents and even grandparents.
Another advantage, most of these natural places are freely accessible.
It is therefore a financially very accessible activity, since it is free apart from the cost of purchasing or renting equipment.
In short, adventure within everyone's reach.
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Weekend around Paris: all our ideas for outings
The Fontainebleau forest, the headquarters of climbing enthusiasts
The Diplodocus, the Cul-de-chien or the Rocher Canon
The forest of Fontainebleau - "Bleau" for friends - is undoubtedly the realm of rock climbing.
For decades, the place has been coveted by climbers from all over the world.
Here you can practice what is known in climbing jargon as "bouldering", that is, climbing on rocks without a rope or carabiner.
With more than 27,000 routes, there is something for all tastes and all levels.
A color code informs you of the difficulty of the climb: white for children, yellow for beginners, orange for intermediate levels, blue and red for confirmed, black for experts.
Then all you have to do is choose from the many spots, some of which have fanciful names such as Diplodocus, Cul-de-chien or Rocher Canon.
To get your bearings, it is better to consult the Bleau site beforehand.
How to get there ?
From Paris, it takes about an hour to reach the main spots by car.
But be careful, the journey time can quickly lengthen depending on traffic.
A word of advice: avoid Sunday evening which coincides with weekend returns.
By train, from the Gare de Lyon, many lines serve the stations around Fontainebleau.
The Rocher de la Dame Jouanne
From its height of fifteen meters, the Dame Jouanne imposes itself and can boast of being the highest rock and one of the most famous of the Fontainebleau massif.
This large block of sandstone is conquered only by the most daring.
As long as you are in the area, take the opportunity to discover a jewel of Gothic architecture in the Ile-de-France region: the ruined tower of the Saint-Mathurin church, located in the heart of the village of Larchant and fifty meters high.
How to get there ?
By car, allow 50 minutes and park in the Dame-Jouanne-Robert Paragot public car park.
The blocks are located to the left of the path which starts at the level of the Jobert chalet.
If you opt for public transport, you will have to take a transilien (line R) then stop at Nemours.
From there, a bus connects the station to the village of Larchant in ten minutes.
Notice to the more adventurous: the bike ride from Nemours to Larchant takes half an hour.
Read alsoRejuvenating weekend in the forest of Fontainebleau, between horse riding, cooking and yoga
Les Andelys, the cliffs on the banks of the Seine
Dizziness doesn't scare you?
Then you will love climbing the chalk and flint cliffs shaped by the Seine.
Grouped around the Andelys loop, they are a delight for intermediate and more experienced climbers.
The Val Saint-Martin in particular offers beautiful, well-assured routes thanks to the re-equipment work of the French Mountain and Climbing Federation (FFME) of the Eure.
This site is, on the other hand, not recommended for children because of its very steep exposure and the smallness of the path at the foot of the tracks.
Since you are passing through, take the opportunity to visit the Château Gaillard by Richard Coeur-de-Lion, which offers a superb panorama of the Seine valley and its parade of barges.
How to get there ?
Val Saint-Martin is located two kilometers west of Les Andelys.
By car, allow approximately 1h30 via the A13 motorway.
By train, a line connects Gare Saint-Lazare to that of Gaillon in one hour.
From there, you will have to take a bus which takes about twenty minutes to reach Les Andelys.
Then count about 10 minutes by bike (30 minutes on foot) to reach your destination.
Read alsoRejuvenating weekend in the forest of Fontainebleau, between horse riding, cooking and yoga
The water tower of Saint-Arnoult-en-Yvelines, the atypical
The Saint-Arnoult water tower offers a breathtaking view of the surroundings.
Photo press / Saint-Arnoult
Are you looking for an atypical place to climb?
Bet on the water tower of Saint Arnoult-en-Yvelines, whose view from the top of the building (37 meters) is breathtaking.
We practice the classic ascending climbing, the crossing of routes in routes to simulate the cliffs, sequences at ground level block type and even short routes on slabs, ideal for beginners.
How to get there ?
Reach Saint Arnoult-en-Yvelines by car via the A10 motorway (allow a little over an hour).
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The Fauvettes viaduct: the highest
“
cliff
”
in Ile-de-France
At the bend in the forest paths between Bures-sur-Yvette and Gometz-le-Chatel, about 25 kilometers from Paris Sud, nestles the Fauvettes viaduct, a disused railway bridge of the old Paris railway line - Chartres.
With its twelve arches and eleven pillars, this 34 meter high structure was renovated in 2004 to make it a leisure base.
The site is ideal for practicing rock climbing.
There are a hundred routes of different ratings: white (easy), blue (sustained), red (difficult) and black (expert).
How to get there ?
By car, take the A6B and allow about forty minutes to arrive at your destination.
The site is also accessible with the RER B.
Les Glachoirs, an exceptional natural site
The Glachoirs site is located in a former limestone quarry.
Photo press / Glachoirs
The Glachoirs site, located in Saint-Vaast-lès-Mello (about 60 kilometers north of Paris), is a former private open-air limestone quarry with free access.
The place is now a paradise for walkers and climbers: routes have been laid out on old working faces, with several levels of difficulty.
A quiet, pleasant corner of nature which once again offers a beautiful panorama.
How to get there ?
Further than Parc Astérix, you can reach Saint-Vaast-lès-Mello via the A3 then A1 motorways (allow 1h30).
Sherwood Parc, kid-friendly climbing
In Sherwood Park, a 17 meter high tree is dedicated to young and old climbers.
Photo press / Sherwood Park
For the little daredevils, a 17-meter-high tree equipped with climbing holds is accessible in the Sherwood Parc amusement park, in the heart of the Oise – Pays de France natural park.
It is a fun climb with a return to the ground provided by an automatic descender, and therefore suitable for children who are not afraid of heights.
Many other activities are offered there: tree climbing, zip line, inflatable games, maze, crossbow shooting... The Escalad'arbre activity is included in packs available from €23 for adults and €12 for kids.
How to get there ?
Access is direct by car via the A15 or A1, or by train from Gare du Nord (40 minutes).