BV25-13 Chantilly

Chantilly—most notable for its cream, château, and horses—is also a fantastic cycling destination. While Chantilly is less than 50 km from central Paris, this route offers a more scenic ride with a calmer city exit and extra time in the forest. It’s a point-to-point ride with an easy train return, allowing you to make the most of a medium-length adventure without worrying about the ride back.

The route begins by following Canal Saint-Martin to Canal de l’Ourcq, providing a dedicated bike path for a smooth escape from the city. On weekends, the path can get busy, but if you leave in the morning, it’s usually fine. Around 30 km in, you leave the canal and start heading north through a mix of fields, small villages, and a few climbs before reaching the forests surrounding Chantilly.

At 58 km, you enter Forêt d’Ermenonville, then continue into Forêt de Chantilly, approaching the city from the southeast. This direction offers a stunning view of the château and the famous horse stables before you reach the town center.

I recommend stopping to take in the views—while you need a ticket to enter the château grounds, you can still get a great look from the road. From there, it’s just 2.5 km to the train station, with several boulangeries and restaurants along the way to refuel before the train home.

For the return, you can take either the RER D or the TER back to Paris. The TER is faster (about half the time) but runs less frequently. Note: Even though the RER D serves Chantilly, it’s outside Zone 5, so you’ll need to purchase a separate ticket.

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