Idea for a trip in yvelines

Val de Seine leisure island: swimming is open daily in Yvelines

The Val de Seine leisure island reopens its supervised lake in Verneuil-sur-Seine, in the Yvelines. Swimming is now allowed daily until August 30, 2026, alongside the beach, pedal boats, mini-golf, and the nautical center.

Hollande Ponds: the free riverside guinguette beach with no swimming in Yvelines has reopened.

The Étangs de Hollande beach reopens this Saturday, July 4, 2026, in Yvelines (78), after several days of closure caused by storms. We set out to explore the site, from hot sand to deck chairs, inflatable castles, a guinguette, and a free sunset concert that await you through August 30, 2026.

Free castles, museums and monuments in Yvelines, Sunday, July 5, 2026, the first Sunday of the month

The first Sunday of the month, many monuments, castles, museums, and historic sites in Yvelines open their doors to visitors for free. But that isn’t the case for everyone, all year round. To help you navigate, here is the list of cultural sites in the 78 to visit this Sunday, July 5, 2026.

Cern'estival: the free Solidays-style festival from the 78 lands in Yvelines

Le Cern'estival brings its stages to Parc Pelouse de Cernay-la-Ville in Yvelines for its inaugural festival, pairing live concerts with a gourmet market and an eco-friendly ethos. See you on Saturday, July 4, 2026, with free entry.

The medieval fortress of Beynes, the jewel of the Yvelines, has been linked to Diane de Poitiers.

A medieval fortress of the Yvelines, Beynes Castle hides a centuries‑old history and an unexpected link to Diane de Poitiers. Just 30 km from Paris, in the heart of this Yvelines town, its ruins—listed as a Historic Monument—are open to visits year‑round in Beynes. We set out to explore the site on a short break and now reveal a portion of its secrets.

This Pompadour-era château in the Yvelines hides a superb estate and a Japanese garden.

Few people know the Château de La Celle-Saint-Cloud, in Yvelines, which hosts a 23-hectare estate featuring a Japanese garden, contemporary sculptures, and a classified park. For Rendez-vous aux Jardins 2026, we headed out to discover this hidden historical treasure that’s well worth a stroll.

Night of the Forests 2026 in Sonchamp and Clairefontaine, Yvelines

Nights of the Forests 2026 are returning to the Rambouillet area in Yvelines from June 5 to 21, 2026, with nature walks, artistic performances, and free evening outings for all ages. Be sure to book in advance to enjoy these free activities.

Le Chou de Chanorier, the restaurant housed in a château in the Yvelines, unveils its gorgeous terrace at the Top

The Non-Parisian Bistros, which delight us with their restaurants, mainly in Hauts-de-Seine, opened last year a restaurant in Yvelines! And not just anywhere, since it’s at Château Chanorier in Croissy-sur-Seine that you can now go enjoy a meal. And surprise, you can discover a menu signed by Charlie Anne, the Top Chef 2025 finalist. We tested Chanorier’s Chou restaurant, which unveils a short, indulgent menu and even a vast terrace in the heart of a verdant park, offering raclette in winter and barbecue in summer.

The Night of the Forests 2026 in the Forest of Versailles, featuring workshops, games, and free walks.

For Nuits des Forêts 2026, the Pachamama association invites you to a festive, nature-filled immersion in the Forest of Versailles, in Porchefontaine, featuring workshops, strolls, and free activities for everyone, from June 9 to 21, 2026.

Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines: the surprising origin of its name

The name of Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines, this vast agglomeration in the Yvelines about 20 km southwest of Paris, derives from a small medieval chapel dedicated to a 3rd‑century Roman martyr. A story that few Île-de-France residents know. Here's the story.

This town in the Yvelines department is celebrating the Fête de la Nature with a hedgehog theme.

Essarts-le-Roi, a town in Yvelines, will celebrate the Nature Festival on Sunday, May 24, 2026, with a hedgehog theme. Free activities, workshops, music and a market: all day at Market Square.

Nature Festival in a vast park in Yvelines

For the 20th anniversary of Fête de la Nature, the Parc du Peuple de l'herbe in Carrières-sous-Poissy, Yvelines, offers guided walks, naturalist discoveries, and the opening of the Insect House on Saturday, May 23, 2026.

Nature Festival 2026 in Saint-Germain-en-Laye: flower market, free workshops and guided walks

This weekend, Saint-Germain-en-Laye will bloom to the rhythm of the Nature Festival 2026, a day when the town opens up like an open-air garden. Repotting, seed exchanges, a flower market, themed walks, basketry, and sheepdogs: biodiversity is invited everywhere this Saturday, May 23. A green interlude where hands go into the soil and the senses come alive.

Plant Festival at Château de Dampierre: the 78's new event is unveiled

In the Yvelines, the Domaine de Dampierre-en-Yvelines is launching its very first Plant Festival on May 9–10, 2026, featuring about forty exhibitors, hands-on workshops and talks in an exceptionally verdant setting. We went to discover this new green rendezvous, tucked into a jewel-box of nature and heritage.

Yvelines: have you heard of this temple of love, a romantic kiosk-bridge set in a lush green haven?

In the Yvelines, at the heart of the Bonnelles pond nature reserve, a charming bridge-kiosk nicknamed the “Temple of Love” still bears witness to an 18th-century parc à fabriques—an elaborate garden of follies. Open to the public for discovery in 2026.

Yvelines: discover the Bonnelles Ponds Nature Reserve and its beautiful treasures

In the Yvelines, the Bonnelles Ponds Regional Nature Reserve offers a free, year-round nature and heritage stroll around two ponds, featuring diverse wildlife and charming 18th-century factories.

Nuits des Forêts 2026 in the Yvelines: the schedule of nature outings in the 78

Nights in the Forests return from June 5 to 21, 2026, in the heart of Yvelines! A rich and varied program takes shape across the department to help you reconnect with nature in an immersive and playful way.

Yvelines: a park designated as a natural site and its historic island cloaked in wisteria

In the Yvelines, just a short stroll from the RER A, the Parc des Ibis du Vésinet reveals, in late April to early May 2026, its Chinese wisterias in full bloom around a large lake designated a natural site since 1934. We went to explore it, and it’s a true feast for the eyes and a perfect place to recharge.

Ten offbeat parks and gardens in Yvelines, treasures to discover

What if we set off on a stroll to discover the loveliest original parks and gardens in Yvelines? From hidden, unique, historic spots to outright quirky or simply one-of-a-kind places, the 78 has no shortage of unusual gems for anyone looking to stray off the beaten path. We’re unveiling 10 parks, gardens, and green spaces to explore in the department.

Le Jardin Yili, the unusual Chinese garden hidden away in the Yvelines

Jardin Yili is the only privately-owned traditional Chinese garden in France. Head for Saint-Rémy-l'Honoré in the Yvelines, about 33 km from Paris, for a change of scenery. Discover this 10,000 m² green space, imbued with spirituality and tranquility, where you can discover the art of Chinese gardens and immerse yourself in a feng shui setting inspired by age-old traditions.