Far from being the best-known département in the Paris region,Essonne stands out for its wide open spaces, picturesque châteaux and immense gardens, some of which have been classified as " Jardins remarquables".
From the Chamarande estate to Milly-la-Forêt (home of Jean Cocteau), via Courances and its pretty Japanese gardens, or Winnoland, the family theme park... A land of history, sport and nature, Essonne is above all home to numerous hiking trails, to be discovered in the Gâtinais nature park and the Haute Vallée de la Chevreuse regional park, which also covers part of the Yvelines.
The Essonne department offers a wide range of family outings combining sport, culture and heritage to discover with the kids!
Heritage, cultural outings & walks
Crew Legend: an international breaking battle at the Grand Paris Sud Arena
On February 9, 2025, the world's best breaking teams will meet at the Grand Paris Sud Arena in Evry-Courcouronnes to battle it out at the Crew Legend! [Read more]
Painting memory: the retrospective exhibition around Boris Zaborov at the Maison Caillebotte
Maison Caillebotte honors painter Boris Zaborov with the exhibition Painting Memory, on view from May 17 to September 21, 2025. [Read more]
Spring Plant Festival at the Château de Saint-Jean de Beauregard (91)
The Château de Saint-Jean de Beauregard estate welcomes you from April 4 to 6, 2025, for its traditional spring plant festival, alongside 200 exhibitors and a wide range of events. [Read more]
Pop Central: the museum of cult cars from vintage films and video games just a stone's throw from Paris
Who hasn't dreamed of getting behind the wheel of the Batmobile or reliving the atmosphere of the arcades of the 90s? In Étréchy (91), the Pop Central Museum awaits you on Wednesdays, Fridays and weekends, for a total immersion in pop culture, with legendary movie cars and vintage arcade machines galore. [Read more]
Le Bal des Ombres: an evening of crime, mystery and splendour at the château de Saint-Jean-de-Beauregard
Immerse yourself in this unusual immersive show, and let yourself be carried away by this fascinating investigation. See you in May and June 2025 at the château de Saint-Jean-de-Beauregard for a ball like no other... [Read more]
The Retro-Gaming Museum, for fans of vintage video games and pinball machines
From the beginnings of video games to today's latest consoles, come and discover the history of retro-gaming and, above all, try your hand at different consoles and pinball machines! [Read more]
Lunar New Year, Tet festival AGEVP at the Théâtre de Yerres in Essonne, Vietnamese New Year
A major event for the Vietnamese community, the Têt Festival, which celebrates the Vietnamese New Year and in particular the Lunar New Year, awaits you at the Yerres theater this year on Sunday February 16, 2025. Shows, dress parades, gourmet specialities, games, dancing and stalls are all on the program for this event celebrating the arrival of the Year of the Wooden Snake. [Read more]
Mennecy Metal Fest 2025: Blind Guardian, Dagoba, Loudblast... the first names
Metal music is back in Essonne for the 13th edition of the Mennecy Metal Fest. Join us on Friday 5th, Saturday 6th and Sunday 7th September 2025 at Parc de Villeroy to enjoy the powerful sounds of Blind Guardian, Dagoba, Loudblast, Dropdead Chaos, Waltari and Unbounded Terror. [Read more]
NoctiRaid: team racing with shooting, mountain biking, trail running and orienteering (91)
Take part in the 16th edition of the NoctiRaid, a team race combining five sporting disciplines, in Essonne! With family or friends, cross kilometers of nature from February 8 to 9, 2025, with a program of unique events. [Read more]
Run For Planet 2025: the eco-designed race for the environment in Draveil (91)
How about running for the planet? The Run For Planet is coming to Draveil on Sunday, May 18, 2025. This race aims to raise public awareness of ecological issues by running 5 or 10 kilometers, with proceeds going to environmental associations. [Read more]
Le Fragment Ovni: the escape game straight from outer space at Secret Jeegs
Secret Jeegs, an escape game in Draveil, France, invites you to dislodge the alien object embedded in its roof with a top-notch escape game, starting now. An adventure linked to the three others on the site, leading you to extract energy from this object for a very useful purpose... Ready to find the truth elsewhere? [Read more]
The Observatory: Secret Jeegs' UFO-scented escape game
Is the truth out there...? At Sortiraparis, we don't have the answer to that question, but Secret Jeegs, an escape game located in Draveil, Essonne, may have it, with its L'Observatoire room, where you'll have to protect the establishment from an alien invasion. Are you up to the challenge? [Read more]
Château Perché Festival moves to the Château de Farcheville in Essonne (91) for summer 2025
The Château Perché festival celebrates its 10th anniversary at the Château de Farcheville, in Essonne (91), from July 24 to 27, 2025! For this Île-de-France premiere, the "Il était une fois, l'Utopie Fantasmagorique" edition promises a new festive experience combining music, art and visual performances. Get ready for a royal anniversary! Pre-registration from November 22, 2024 at 12! [Read more]
EVA: the virtual reality eSports brand sets up in Brétigny-sur-Orge (91)
EVA, the Esports Virtual Arenas, invites you to discover its new venue in Brétigny-sur-Orge, in the heart of the "Maison Neuve" shopping zone. The concept offers an immersive experience where eSports and virtual reality meet. Equipped with VR helmets and connected weapons, players evolve in a futuristic 500 m² arena. [Read more]
The Caillebotte house, home of the famous Impressionist painter in Yerres (91)
Located in the heart of the beautiful Caillebotte estate, notable for its immense park, the Maison Caillebotte stands out for its large white colonnades: reopened to the public in 2017, it's the perfect opportunity to discover the home of the famous Impressionist painter, Gustave Caillebotte. [Read more]
Spots where to sleep and have fun with the kids
Zoos and aquariums
Janvry, a picturesque village with a free wildlife park and events in the Chevreuse Valley
Nestled in the heart of the Haute Vallée de Chevreuse in the Regional Nature Park, Janvry in Essonne is an undiscovered nugget. With its farmland and heritage, including the Louis XIII-style château and the church of Notre Dame du Mont Carmel, this village of 600 inhabitants knows how to surprise its visitors. In fact, to everyone's surprise, it offers a free animal park and great events all year round. [Read more]
Amusement parks and fairgrounds
Dundee Parc, an indoor playground for young and old in Corbeil-Essonnes (91)
Welcome to the children's (and teenagers') paradise of Corbeil-Essonnes! Here, young and old alike can let off steam in Dundee Parc's 2,500 m² of covered play areas. A program as fun as it is playful, perfect for families. [Read more]
Mysterland, the indoor adventure playground in Montlhery (91)
In Montlhery, in the Essonne department, Mysterland is the indoor playground that welcomes you and your children all year round, for hours of family fun! [Read more]
The TFOU park, the covered play area at the Evry 2 shopping center
In the heart of the Evry 2 shopping center, a 2,600 m² TFOU Parc welcomes you and your family for a crazy afternoon of fun in the inflatables, games and activities offered! [Read more]
Sports outings, parks and gardens
Parc Caillebotte, the large free landscaped park that inspired Gustave Caillebotte in Yerres (91)
Just 30 minutes from the Gare de Lyon railway station, on the Yerres side of the Essonne département, Maison Caillebotte is home to one of the region's most beautiful green spaces: Parc Caillebotte, the garden that inspired the famous Impressionist painter Gustave Caillebotte. [Read more]
The Domaine de Chamarande, Essonne's largest public garden, for a day in the fresh air
The Domaine de Chamarande is one of the most beautiful gardens in Essonne, and only an hour's ride by public transport, or just as much by car. Located in the town whose name it bears, we'll take you on a stroll to discover it. [Read more]
The Maison Jean Cocteau in Milly la Forêt, a bucolic interlude between art and history in Essonne
We're off to Essonne, and more precisely to Milly-la-Forêt, to discover the former Maison du Bailli, a place steeped in history that was once the home of Jean Cocteau. Now a museum and a "Maison des Illustres", the house awaits you for a new season from May 2 to November 3, 2024. [Read more]
Parc Lejars-Rouillon, for a bucolic stroll in Dourdan (91)
Just a few minutes' walk from Dourdan town center, nestles a pretty tree-lined square. With its tall trees, playground and pretty flowerbeds, discover the Parc Lejars-Rouillon! [Read more]
Current activities
La ferme du Bel Air, for a family outing in the countryside near Villiers-le-Bacle (91)
At Villiers-le-Bâcle, in the Essonne département, Ferme du Bel Air invites you to meet its little furry and feathered residents for a family outing in the fresh air. [Read more]
Dates and Opening Time
From July 17, 2024 to December 31, 2027
