Things to do around Colombes
- Paris 2024
- (Re)discover the districts around the Olympic sites
- Things to do around Colombes
Standing on the banks of the river Seine, the town of Colombes offers a breath of fresh air on the outskirts of Paris. It has to be said that this town in the department of Hauts-de-Seine and its surrounding area have plenty of sporting and cultural activities to offer fans of the great outdoors. And in case you needed proof of its dynamism, Colombes is to host the hockey competitions of the 2024 Olympic & Paralympic Games. Art enthusiasts will be delighted to know that Hauts-de-Seine is also packed with a fascinating cultural heritage. After all, this is where the impressionist movement began. So soak up the intoxicating, poetic charm of this French department as you explore along the bucolic banks of the Seine… There’s a fine line between sport and art!
Sports activities in the great outdoors near Colombes
In Colombes and the neighbouring towns, there are hundreds of ways to let off steam and enjoy the outdoor activities available. From sporting challenges to bucolic walks, there’s no shortage of leisure pursuits.
Yves-du-Manoir Olympic stadium of Colombes
If there’s one pilgrimage to be made in celebration of the history of sport, this has to be it: a visit to the stade olympique Yves-du-Manoir in Colombes. Because very few of the world’s stadiums have enjoyed the rare privilege of hosting the Olympics not once, but twice. This sports complex was built around a racecourse in 1883 and converted into a stadium in 1907. It has hosted more than 200 international sporting events, including the 1938 football World Cup final, 42 French Cup finals and 79 matches featuring the France football team. In addition, the Olympic Games opening ceremony and athletics competitions were held here in 1924. As an anniversary tribute to this historic event, 100 years on, the stadium is to host the hockey competitions of the 2024 Olympic & Paralympic Games.
For the occasion, you’ll discover a renovated stadium that’s being modernised and extended by work that began in 2021. If you live in the vicinity, you’ll be able to take advantage of its new sports field. Among other facilities, it comprises several synthetic grass football and rugby pitches, as well as a new athletics ground that will delight sporty parents and children alike!
![Stade Yves du Manoir%252C vue du ciel](https://res.cloudinary.com/du5jifpgg/image/upload/e_blur:1000,t_cross_sell_bean_w330_h285,q_1,f_auto/v1714375776/Surcharge-APIDAE/stade-yves-du-manoir.jpg)
Pierre Lagravère park in Colombes
For a combination of sport and relaxation, cycle along the Seine riverbank for a few minutes to reach the Pierre Lagravère park, a haven of peace that invites you to unwind. Before it became a popular leisure site among local residents, this lovely green space of 11 hectares (Colombes’ largest park) used to comprise the Marante and Moulin-Joly islands, which were favourite high-society haunts during the 18th century.
In the Domaine du Moulin Joly, thus named because of its flour mill, the English-style park featured waterfalls and streams, a coffee shop and a menagerie. During the French Revolution, the estate was sold and redeveloped over the centuries by a succession of new owners.
After the mill was destroyed, some of the trees felled and the islands joined up with the riverbanks of Colombes, this vast stretch became a public park in 1973. Nowadays, Pierre Lagravère park in the town of Colombes is a place for relaxation and leisure activities. Sports enthusiasts can make the most of the Olympic swimming pool, the skating rink and the tennis courts. Between the merry-go-round and 3 play areas, children of all ages will find plenty to keep them occupied, while nature lovers will make the most of a section of the Blue Promenade. This 9-km section runs along the entire length of the park, offering walkers and cyclists a pleasant, stress-free route between Colombes and Rueil-Malmaison.
![Woman lying on a deckchair in the Pierre Lagravère departmental park](https://res.cloudinary.com/du5jifpgg/image/upload/q_auto,f_auto/Surcharge-APIDAE%2Fparc-departemental-pierre-lagravere.jpg.jpg)
Colombes and the surrounding area, a refuge for the Impressionists
Along this 39-km Blue Promenade, you’ll admire the beautiful scenery of the Seine riverbanks, worthy of an impressionist painting. And it’s no wonder! Colombes and its surroundings are historically famous for having been a major source of inspiration for the most famous painters of this artistic movement.
The Impressionists Park in Rueil-Malmaison
On the riverbanks in Hauts-de-Seine, you can take a quiet break in the Impressionists Park. In 1996, the municipality decided to bring a touch of beauty and poetic charm to the urban landscape of the former gas plant of Clichy. Its inspiration? Monet’s garden in Giverny.
The typical bandstand, the bridge festooned with wisteria and the ponds covered with water lilies are good clues. To recreate this floral setting that’s as pretty as a picture, the gardeners also took inspiration from the colour palette of the impressionist movement. Besides its artistic dimension, the Impressionists Park is the fruit of a desire to create a green space compatible with the preservation of the ecosystem. Hence, besides adding a bohemian touch to the landscape and the woods, the park’s specific management contributes to the development of its biodiversity. The same goes for the rose garden, the white garden and the arboretum whose 250 varieties of trees and perennials will leave you in awe.
![Wisteria garden](https://res.cloudinary.com/du5jifpgg/image/upload/q_auto,f_auto/Parcours%2Fparcours-jop-colombes%2Fparc-des-impressionnistes-rueil-malmaison.jpg.jpg)
Île des Impressionnistes
Continue your Impressionism immersion on an iconic island located between Chatou and Rueil-Malmaison. Modestly nicknamed the island of Impressionists, it inspired the likes of Monet, Degas, Manet and Renoir who all came here to paint. Renoir even described it as the “prettiest place in the vicinity of Paris”. Besides outdoor activities like walks on the island’s banks or river trips on the Seine aboard a 19th-century boat, you’ll be able to admire, here and there, the scenes that inspired these famous artists.
A perfect example is the historic ‘guinguette’, the Maison Fournaise, which was very popular at the time. You only have to look closely at Renoir’s Luncheon of the Boating Party to recognise the wrought-iron terrace and soak up the warm, festive atmosphere that reigned here then, and still does. Besides this fascinating artistic heritage, since it reopened in 1990, the Maison Fournaise has served traditional French cuisine prepared from local produce, and typical brasserie dishes. Maybe you’ll find your own inspiration between the sea bream aiguillettes, the delicious rib steak and the creamy risotto. From paintbrush to knife and fork.
![Restaurant Fournaise](https://res.cloudinary.com/du5jifpgg/image/upload/e_blur:1000,t_cross_sell_bean_w330_h285,q_1,f_auto/v1714375776/Surcharge-APIDAE/restaurant-maison-fournaise.jpg)
The Maison Fournaise houses the musée Fournaise which also reopened a little later, in 1992. Paying tribute to the impressionist movement, it has been celebrating since 2019 the one-hundredth anniversary of the passing away of Auguste Renoir, through an impressive immersive tour. During this 60-minute experience, a hologram of Renoir himself tells you all about the artist’s period and the story behind his work. In a very life-like reconstitution of the setting, you’ll take a leap into the past with the help of the augmented-reality tablets, virtual-reality headpieces and videos at your disposal.
![Musée de la Maison Fournaise](https://res.cloudinary.com/du5jifpgg/image/upload/e_blur:1000,t_cross_sell_bean_w330_h285,q_1,f_auto/v1714375776/Surcharge-APIDAE/MUSEE_FOURNAISE_4.jpg)
Claude Monet’s impressionist house
Your impressionism voyage continues in the town of Argenteuil. It was here, just north of Colombes, that Monet lived with his family in the 1870s. The maison impressionniste, a beautiful dwelling with green shutters, opened to the public in 2022 following several years of renovation work. You’ll be invited to explore the nooks and crannies of the painter’s home via a fun tour designed like a treasure hunt. It’s up to you to unveil the artist’s secrets, hidden in the cupboards and drawers, and to learn how he lived from day to day with the help of videos and reproductions of his paintings. You’ll also be able to soak up the atmosphere aboard a replica of Monet’s floating studio, for an original tour that will appeal to both children and adults. Botany enthusiasts won’t be disappointed either. The tour starts and ends with a winter garden and an heirloom flower garden, which surround the house with a medley of colours and scents… A delightful feast for the senses.
![Maison Claude Monet](https://res.cloudinary.com/du5jifpgg/image/fetch/e_blur:1000,t_cross_sell_bean_w330_h285,q_1,f_auto/v1714375776/https://static.apidae-tourisme.com/filestore/objets-touristiques/images/0/162/12886528.jpg)
Impressionist trail in Asnières-sur-Seine
For a fitting conclusion to this artistic visit, head for Asnières-sur-Seine to follow the parcours impressionniste. This town’s riverbanks were the haunt of bathers and boaters, and an endless source of inspiration for the painters of that period. On a guided tour, this open-air museum offers viewpoints that inspired some major impressionist works, such as Asnières Bridge by Signac or Bathers at Asnières by Seurat. You can choose between a tour following the 6 bilingual terminals (French/English) placed along the path, or a guided tour starting at the Asnières-sur-Seine tourist office.
![Instant de bonheur%252C Ile de la Jatte%252C Paris Region - Seurat](https://res.cloudinary.com/du5jifpgg/image/upload/e_blur:1000,t_cross_sell_bean_w330_h285,q_1,f_auto/v1714375776/Surcharge-APIDAE/Grande_Jatte.jpg)
Finished your visit but want to enjoy the guingette atmosphere a little longer? There’s no need to go to Paris, because Rosa Bonheur has come to the banks of the Seine, in Asnières. So make yourself comfortable on the terrace to admire the scenery and savour a glass of wine and a delicious plate of tapas. In summer, Rosa Bonheur is a good place for adults and children to enjoy outdoor activities, with a play area and a boules pitch. And as if to invite you to return to the present, Rosa Bonheur shines a spotlight on street art, with beautiful graffiti decorating the Seine riverbanks.
![](https://res.cloudinary.com/du5jifpgg/image/fetch/e_blur:1000,t_cross_sell_bean_w330_h285,q_1,f_auto/v1714375776/https://static.apidae-tourisme.com/filestore/objets-touristiques/images/129/157/2989441.jpg)
North of Colombes, Enghien-les-Bains
Just a short distance from Colombes, the town of Enghien-les-Bains has a few surprises in store for fans of gambling, fine food and nature. Its iconic 43-hectare lake, for example, invites you to enjoy a stroll and switch off from the daily grind. Formerly a wetland area, it gradually evolved to become in the 18th century the vast stretch of water that we know today. Take the time to walk around the lake, or take out a pedalo. If you fancy a break, there’s no shortage of places to relax and enjoy yourself. Just take your pick between the spa, restaurants, theatre and other amenities.
The Barrière casino of Enghien-les-Bains
To the delight of gamblers, the most popular casino in France can be found here in Hauts-de-Seine. Fully renovated in 2005, the casino d’Enghien-les-Bains is gambling heaven (for adults) and an amusement venue that will make you dizzy. With nearly 500 machines and over forty gambling tables, you’ll be plunged into a setting that has nothing to envy of Las Vegas. Each room has its own special atmosphere. The ground floor is flooded with daylight and offers a view over the lake, while the room set aside for high-stakes gambling has a subdued atmosphere oozing with secrecy. And if it’s razzle-dazzle you’re looking for, pop upstairs to go for the jackpot amid the glitz and opulence that surrounds the slot machines.
![Vue extérieur du canal du Casino Barrière d’Enghien-les-Bains](https://res.cloudinary.com/du5jifpgg/image/upload/e_blur:1000,t_cross_sell_bean_w330_h285,q_1,f_auto/v1714375776/Surcharge-APIDAE/casino-barriere-enghien-les-bains.jpg)
Fouquet’s
You don’t have to go to Paris to dine at Fouquet’s, because Fouquet’s comes to you! The famous fine-food establishment has opened its doors opposite the casino in Enghien-les-Bains, offering diners an uninterrupted view over the lake. If you’re a regular at Fouquet’s des Champs-Élysées, you’ll feel at home with the red leather seats, dark wood panelling, large picture windows and famous Harcourt portraits hanging on the walls. The bistro-style menu put together by the 3-star chef, Pierre Gagnaire, revisits the great classics of French gastronomy with a modern twist. You’ll be spoilt for choice between the salmon gravlax, the panko-coated roast scallops and the lamb chops with thyme blossom.
![Terrasse du Fouquet&%2523039;s d&%2523039;Enghien-les-Bains](https://res.cloudinary.com/du5jifpgg/image/fetch/e_blur:1000,t_cross_sell_bean_w330_h285,q_1,f_auto/v1714375776/https://static.apidae-tourisme.com/filestore/objets-touristiques/images/201/93/22437321.jpg)
Le Cacaotier
There’s more to French gastronomy than tasty food. Go and try the chocolate at Le Cacacotier in Enghien-les-Bains and you’ll fully understand what we mean. Created in 1995 by the chocolate artisan Hubert Masse, this establishment showcases the noble bean in products made from cocoa varieties from across the world… A real culinary voyage. Besides revealing to you great flavours from Venezuela, Madagascar and Brazil, Hubert Masse excels in the art of daring combinations, such as praline with Spanish almonds, ganache with wild fennel and marzipan with Persian pistachios. Prepare to be amazed.
![Le cacaotier Noël 2021](https://res.cloudinary.com/du5jifpgg/image/upload/e_blur:1000,t_cross_sell_bean_w330_h285,q_1,f_auto/v1714375776/Surcharge-APIDAE/Le_cacaotier.jpg)
An alternative walk near Colombes
South of Colombes, a stone’s throw from the Impressionists trail, is a somewhat original place to walk. Here you’ll be surprised to learn that Asnières-sur-Seine is home to a dog cemetery, the world’s largest animal shrine. Created in 1899 at the initiative of a lawyer, Georges Harmois and a feminist journalist, Marguerite Durand, the cemetery honours the memory of our beloved pets with fur, feathers or scales, whether famous or anonymous. During your visit, you’ll admire the many tombs, including those of Marguerite Durand’s horse and Clément, who was Michel Houellebecq’s dog. A moving and unusual visit.
![Graves at the dog cemetery in Asnières](https://res.cloudinary.com/du5jifpgg/image/upload/q_auto,f_auto/Surcharge-APIDAE%2Fcimetiere-des-chiens-asnieres.jpg.jpg)
Also to be discovered
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