Bois de Fausses-Reposes
Wedged between Sèvres, Ville-d'Avray and Versailles, the Bois de Fausses-Reposes is a 700-hectare state forest that most Parisians have never heard of — yet its oak and chestnut canopy shelters some of the most atmospheric woodland walks in the entire Île-de-France. Corot painted its ponds; you can still find corners that look exactly as he left them.
Walking the Forest
A network of colour-coded trails fans out from the Carrefour de la Mare Aux Corbeaux, a crossroads deep in the forest where several broad allées meet. The yellow trail (roughly 6 km) loops past the Étangs de Ville-d'Avray, two mirror-still ponds immortalised in Corot's misty landscapes and now protected as a natural heritage site.
The forest floor in spring is carpeted with wood anemones and wild garlic, filling the air with a sharp green scent. In autumn the beech sections near the D910 road turn a deep copper that rivals anything in the Forêt de Fontainebleau but with a fraction of the visitors.
Wildlife and Practical Notes
Roe deer are common at dawn and dusk, particularly along the southern edge near the Allée Royale. Birdwatchers regularly log short-toed treecreepers, marsh tits and, in winter, occasional firecrests in the holly understorey.
The forest is managed by the ONF (Office National des Forêts) and is free to enter at all times. No café or facilities exist inside the forest, so bring water and a snack. The most convenient entry point from Sèvres is off the Route de Versailles (D910), where a small car park sits beside the forest barrier.
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