Exploring Versailles: 17 km Trek Along Bievre River

Apr 16

As a change of pace from my daily routine, I decided to do a short hike to Versailles along the Bièvre River on 1ST April, 2023. Upon discovering this hike on the meetup application, I was immediately attracted to it since it was both exciting and reasonably priced at only ten euros. A day before the trek I connected to Valerie our tour organizer, and we decided to meet at Pont du Garigialano train station in Paris. I reached to the train station from International Cite University by taking Tram-T3a and met Valerie. As soon as we arrived at the Garigialano train station, we boarded the RER-C train bound for St-quentin-en-Yevelines. Our journey to the Yevelines station took 20 minutes from the Garigialano. Our meeting point was reached before the scheduled time; we were all scheduled to meet at 11:00 am. As a result, we waited for 15 minutes more for others to join us. In total, twelve people had registered for this trek, but only seven of them showed up. Finally, we started our trek at around 11:30 am.

To reach the forest trail from the Yevelines station, we walked for approximately 30 minutes. We were overwhelmed by the beauty that surrounded us once we reached the forest. Even though there was cloudy weather overhead, and rain was expected soon, we did not let that dampen our spirits as we enjoyed the day. During the trail, we saw a variety of bird species, including Cormorants, White Swans, and Grey Herons. Having walked for two hours along the river and mountains, we came to a nice spot with a good view of the river and mountains, so we decided to take a break for lunch here. During the luncheon, some guests brought homemade meals, while I enjoyed a delightful Subway sandwich and a chocolate cookie from the Subway counter. In the midst of lunch, we had the chance to witness a stunning sight as Swans glided gracefully along the river in front of us, their wings flapping rhythmically as they glided. As we continued our trek, our hearts were full of awe and gratitude for the beautiful sights that we had seen so far. On the way, we encountered an artificial island inhabited by Bar-headed geese, as well as a magnificent 700-year-old oak tree that towered over us.

We reached the summit of the climb at a vantage point that offered a bird's eye view of the Versailles palace, which was the highlight of the trek. In the bright sunshine, the palace seemed to me to be awe-inspiring and monumental in its grandeur. Our knowledgeable organizer, Valerie, provided us with fascinating insights into the palace's history. Although we couldn't explore the palace and its gardens in detail due to long queues at both entrances, the journey had already been a success. As one of our small groups, we were able to experience the beauty of nature, the companionship among our friends, and the captivating sights of the Palace of Versailles that have left an indelible mark on all of us.

I couldn't help but feel grateful as I took the RER-C train from Château-Rive Gauche Station back to Garigialano station, Paris, I thought back on this wonderful experience. The trek had been expertly managed by Valerie, and I was left with an enthusiasm for more small trail adventures in the future.

In conclusion, my trek to Versailles along the Bièvre River was a rejuvenating experience that left me captivated by nature's beauty. The well-managed trip, guided by Valerie, allowed me to witness stunning bird species, explore ancient oak trees, and marvel at the grandeur of Versailles Palace from a vantage point. Despite not exploring the palace's interior, the journey was fulfilling, thanks to fellow trekkers' camaraderie. This adventure has reignited my love for small trail treks, and I eagerly await my next escapade into nature's wonders.