From Paris to Chartres: A Royal Escape on the Véloscénie
Day 1
82 km
Paris → Rambouillet
From the Paulette agency at 115 rue Brancion, quickly connect to the Vallons de la Bièvre promenade—a 12 km green corridor, peaceful and shaded, far from city traffic. Soon, the city fades: quiet garden-lined streets, birdsong in the trees, and woodland scents accompany your ride. Take a break at the estates of Sceaux and the Vallée aux Loups—natural gems just beyond Paris.
Continue toward Versailles along the Bièvre Valley. Wooded hillsides, quaint stone bridges, and green pastures create a surprisingly pastoral backdrop. Arriving at the Sun King’s château is a highlight—perfect for a cultural (or culinary) pause.
Beyond Versailles, the landscape shifts as you enter the Haute Vallée de Chevreuse Regional Natural Park. Cycle paths and country lanes alternate, with landmarks like the Château de Breteuil, Cernay waterfalls, and Espace Rambouillet offering natural and cultural discoveries. A few hills spice up the ride before reaching Rambouillet—your forest-fringed stop for the night.
Day 2
54 km
Rambouillet → Chartres
Start your day gently in the Rambouillet château park, its English garden and shaded paths a soothing setting. You leave Île-de-France via the Guéville Valley to reach Épernon—a “Petite Cité de Caractère®” perched between three rivers. The ride follows the Eure River in a calm, rural atmosphere. Wheat fields, copses, and poplar-lined paths lead the way. In Maintenon, the romantic château and its monumental aqueduct—a grand vision of Louis XIV—invite a pause and reflection.
The final stretch winds alongside ponds and streams toward the spectacular arrival in Chartres, where the gothic cathedral gradually rises on the horizon. A grand finale to two days of open-air freedom on your bike.
At the end, simply return your bike at the Paulette drop-off point in Chartres and carry on, carefree, with your head full of memories.