Nature and hiking just a train ride away

Today, 85% of the Yvelines region is covered by natural areas. A real magnet for nature lovers, who can leave the urban fabric of Paris and head west in less than 40 minutes. Here are three forests accessible by train from central Paris.

Tailles d'Herbelay forest (Line L, Paris Saint-Lazare - Saint-Nom-la-Bretèche)

The Tailles d'Herbelay forest is a real laboratory for the Yvelines department. Here, you can observe the implementation of the ponds restoration policy. Today, 30% of remarkable and threatened plant species live in wetlands, and around 50% of bird species depend on these areas. Another practical application is the diversification of tree species. Taking advantage of an outbreak of ink disease in a chestnut grove, the Département has undertaken a vast replanting campaign. At the heart of this area lies a piece of history. Recently revealed to the general public, a fort lies in the ground. In fact, it's a piece of the Paris defense belt built during the First World War. It has been preserved and can now be toured.

Acquired by the Conseil départemental des Yvelines in 1999 as part of its Espaces Naturels Sensibles program, the forest covers an area of 94 ha in the communes of Aigremont and Chambourcy. The forest is an extension of the vast Marly state forest, creating a continuity with the Aigremont communal forest.

Forêt départementale de Méridon (RER B, Paris - Saint-Rémy-lès-Chevreuse)

The three things to see in this forest are the presence, close to the Château de Méridon, of a 19th century property converted into a socio-cultural center. Uniquely, the Méridon forest is also the site of the former Vossery quarry, whose quarried rocks were used to design Parisian cobblestones. And on an ecological scale, the forest is home to a gully forest habitat populated by rare fern species.

Accessible on foot from the RER B train station, this departmental forest is popular with trail runners, who can enjoy the slopes of the Chevreuse valley and the beautiful forest paths that intersect with technical singles. The site also offers easy access to Chevreuse and its typical Yvelines town center, topped by the medieval 11th-century Château de la Madeleine.

Parc départemental du Peuple de l'Herbe (RER A, Paris - Poissy station)

Stretching over 2.8km, the Parc départemental du Peuple de l'Herbe (PPDH) offers three atypical discoveries of the region. Firstly, it's an LPO (Ligue pour la Protection des Oiseaux - League for the Protection of Birds) refuge. A veritable treasure trove for birdwatchers, it frequently carries out an ecological diagnosis of the nesting species present. These can be observed via the PPDH Observatory. Rising 13 metres from the ground on the edge of the Etang de la Galiotte, this atypical structure offers a 360° view over the great landscape of the plain, the meander of the Seine and the Coteaux. The park also boasts an 800m² insect house, which houses an educational exhibition area.

The park is a place of pleasure on the banks of the Seine. Bordering the urban area of eastern Yvelines, it is a link between city and nature. On foot or by bike, come and discover the variety of landscapes, fauna and flora inviting you to escape in the heart of a protected natural area.

For more information: https: //www.sortir-yvelines.fr/Balade-et-rando/Balade-et-rando-dans-les-Yvelines/Parcs-forets-yvelines