3 forests less than 1 hour from Paris for autumn walks

This is the largest forest in the Hauts-de-Seine department, stretching from Clamart to Viroflay (almost Versailles). All in all, a great walk. But its appeal lies not just in its size, as you won't be able to discover it all in one go. No, what makes it so interesting is its highly varied, sometimes even rugged terrain, and its myriad of small lakes and even clearings. In short, entering the Meudon forest means you'll never have to repeat the same walk twice, but instead you'll discover new places in a new light. A change of scenery is guaranteed.

Meudon is 10 minutes by train from Montparnasse station. Frankly, why deprive yourself? It can also be reached via Clamart and a host of other communes, including Chaville, Viroflay and Vélizy-Villacoublay. Once there, head into the forest and find your space. It's best to come by car, as there is no shortage of roads winding through the woods.

Do you like the freshness of the ponds? There are 7 of them, with lawns for a picnic or a break. Do you like to play pétanque in the undergrowth? There are suitable areas along the road from Meudon to Vélizy. Do you come here to hike? The GR2 passes through here! More of a mountain biker? Don't worry, there are plenty of bumps and hollows. The "Hertzian relay spot" at the Tour hertzienne in Meudon has found its vocation here.

Finally, our animal friends are in for a treat. Here you'll see cormorants, herons and even parakeets. You'll also see foxes and weasels roaming the streets of Clamart and Meudon at night.

It's much more than a forest, stretching over 200 km2 and encompassing 29 communes, in the outstanding Haute Vallée de Chevreuse Regional Nature Park. 60 km from Paris, this is the countryside. It's a wonderful lungful of greenery, with pine and oak forests, beech and chestnut trees that are perfect for a change of scenery, but also for those of you who like to pick chestnuts to roast when you get home. Autumn is the season.

It's also mushroom season. And that's just as well, because ceps grow mainly under the very trees that make up the Rambouillet forest: oaks, chestnuts, beeches and pines. A godsend if you're fond of them. You'll find them near the Etang du Coupe-Gorge (between Rambouillet and Le Perray-en-Yvelines), as well as in the undergrowth and clearings.

For cyclists, a network of cycle paths awaits you day and night. There are also the Etangs de Hollande, artificial ponds originally built to supply water to the nearby Château de Versailles. Reservoirs of water, reservoirs of freshness.

Of course you love nature, and wildlife in particular. Then you've come to the right place. The Rambouillet forest is an ecosystem where deer and wild boar live side by side. It's not unusual to come across a stag. It is estimated that there are around 600 of them in the forest. The wild boar population increased by a factor of 3 at the beginning of the century.

Finally, if you're interested in its wildlife, among the many other species that can only be found in the countryside, you'll find some unusual species here, such as the vole, the Bechstein's bat and the Coronelle smooth snake. With its viper-like appearance, it is likely to frighten you, but is harmless.

Parisians don't know much about it, so let's give it some publicity! To the east, there is of course the Bois de Vincennes and its famous zoo. But if you head even further east, 30 km from Paris, into the Brie region, this authentic forest will welcome you with open arms.

As a state-owned forest, it belongs by definition to the State, which guarantees its upkeep. As a result, you'll find yourself in an area where you feel like you're not alone, rather like in a park. This impression is heightened by the many straight roads (route royale, route des Étangs, route de la Canardière, etc.) that intersect at right angles or 45°. This makes for a more pleasant walk if you're coming mainly to breathe in the fresh air, or if you're worried about getting lost. It's also easier to find your car!

Wild boar, fallow deer, stags and roe deer are also at home here. You're bound to come across one if you're quiet, especially the fallow deer and roe deer, not all of which are shy. Note the presence of the Sika deer, closely related to the white-tailed deer, which you may already know from the Bambi character!