The region of Ile-de-France is composed of eight departments:
Paris, Seine-et-Marne, Yvelines, Essonne, Hauts-de-Seine,
Seine-Saint-Denis, Val-de-Marne and Val-d'Oise.
Newcomers to Paris are advised to take a leisurely stroll, drink
in the atmosphere, and take in a famous sight or two. The
initiated, of course, will want to explore their favorite haunts
of the Capital. In and around Paris, whatever the season, there
is something to delight young and old. Ile-de-France is the
region surrounding Paris within a radius of about 50 miles. Its
name comes from the rivers that form its boundaries.
Through this area travelled Charlemagne, Saint-Louis, Joan of
Arc, Louis the XIV and all the kings of France, not forgetting
Napoleon, all leaving their marks on the region. One is drawn to
the magnificent cathedrals, beautifully preserved medieval
abbeys and splendid châteaux architecture unsurpassed
anywhere in France.
For the weary city-dweller and the nature lover, Ile-de-France
offers peaceful valleys, forests and wildlife. On route for
Versailles, you enter the prettiest countryside in Ile-de-France
: the Vallée de Chevreuse. Picturesque villages abound,
Châteaufort with its 12th century fortress,
Saint-Rémy-les-Chevreuse, Saint-Lambert, Dampierre, the
site of a 16th century château, and Les Vaux de Cernay, one of
the loveliest valleys in France.
On the way from Fontainebleau, just on the edge of the forest,
lies Barbizon, made famous as an artists' colony in the 19th
century by Honoré Daumier, Constant, Musset, and the
writer George Sand. You can also visit Rousseau's house on
Grande-Rue, just behind the Monument aux Morts. Ile-de-France is
the combination of culture, history, and nature.
Regional Portrait
Regional tourism board
Department tourism board
