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

This year, Essarts-le-Roi puts the small nocturnal mammal in the spotlight. The commune of the Yvelines (78), perched at the edge of the Parc Naturel Régional de la Haute Vallée de Chevreuse, is organizing its Fête de la Nature 2026 on dimanche 24 mai, with the hedgehog as the guiding thread. And good news for those who are used to looking for the town hall entrance: the event is moving to a new venue this year. Out goes Rue du 11 Novembre, in comes Place du Marché from 10 a.m. for a full day dedicated to biodiversity and living together.

What is the Nature Festival in Essarts-le-Roi?

The Fête de la Nature marks its 20th year in 2026. Born in 2006, this national event, supported by the Office Français de la Biodiversité, brings together thousands of associations, local authorities and everyday citizens each year for free activities open to all. In Aux Essarts-le-Roi, the festival is driven by local groups and merchants and sits within a proud tradition of collective action for the environment. The commune, a member of the Haute Vallée de Chevreuse Regional Nature Park since 2011, has a clear voice to contribute on the subject.

What to do on Sunday, May 24 in Essarts-le-Roi?

The schedule is packed, with plenty of choices. Here are the details of the day’s activities:

• 10h : Scratelier – nature-themed storytelling
• 10h à 13h : Market vendors quiz (shopping vouchers to be won!)
• 11h : Litter-picking session by the Marcheurs cueilleurs & KouroZessarts
• 11h30 : Rando-biquette hike at Fermette de l'Artoire (3h, advance registration, max 10 participants) - register by email: lafermettedelartoire@outlook.fr
• 11h30 & 14h : Lilas Bleu – making a body and facial cleansing gel
• 14h : Musical interlude by the Essartois band SoNates ChrisPiM
• 15h : CCFD Terre Solidaire – activity "Bornéo"
• 16h : CCFD Terre Solidaire – activity "Amazonie"
• 17h : CCFD Terre Solidaire – activity "Bornéo" / Musical interlude by SoNates ChrisPiM / Scratelier – nature-themed storytelling

During the day: Répar'Vélo in the morning, on-site catering, and even a barbecue available for those who want to bring their own sausages. Numerous exhibitors on hand throughout the day.

Check out the full program for the Nature Festival in Essarts-le-Roi

• To be read
• This week's best bets for September 7–13, 2026 in Paris and Île-de-France
• Free museums in Paris and free monuments in Île-de-France: the top cultural deals
• 10 things to do in Yvelines this weekend, September 19–20, 2026

Why choose the hedgehog as this year's theme?

The European hedgehog is a species in decline across our countryside and gardens, threatened by habitat fragmentation and pesticide use. Making it the star of a nature day is also a way to raise awareness among both youngsters and adults about protecting it. The approach is all the more fitting in a place like Essarts-le-Roi, a rural, forested commune with a strong bond to local biodiversity. CCFD Terre Solidaire, present with several activities on the forests of Borneo and the Amazon, reminds us that these issues resonate far beyond our borders.

Our take: It’s a lovely, low-key village day with real local community spirit. The goat hike at Fermette de l’Artoire is the activity not to miss (but book quickly—only 10 spots). Ideal for families, nature enthusiasts, and anyone who enjoys events on a human scale, far from the Paris buzz. Accessible from Paris via Transilien line N to Gare des Essarts-le-Roi.

Also to read on Sortiraparis:

• The Nature Festival in a sprawling park in the Yvelines
• Nature Festival in Paris and Île-de-France 2026: the best free options for its 20th anniversary

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