On the banks of the Seine, in Bois-le-Roi, houses have been catching the eye for over a century: half-timbered, with turrets, steep-pitched roofs and balconies facing the water. They are known as Les Affolantes. The’Pays de Fontainebleau Tourist Office invites you to discover them during a guided cycle tour, accompanied by a tour guide.
These houses were built in 19th century, when the railway brought the banks of the Seine within easy reach of Parisians. Wealthy families had holiday homes built there, each vying with the others in architectural extravagance, to the point of ’astonishing« passers-by. The walk follows the river to view them up close and reveal what these façades tell us about an era.
See you at 2.30 pm at departure from Bois-le-Roi station, accessible by train from Paris and Fontainebleau. Come along with your bike and your helmet – compulsory. The exit is open from 12 years, at the adult rate of 25 euros. To book, please contact the’Pays de Fontainebleau Tourist Office.
And to make the most of your day out cycling, the Fontainebleau forest starts just on the other side of the tracks.
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