Stroll in Ile-de-France: from Paris, go vegetable picking by bicycle

Several farms in Île-de-France offer city dwellers in search of nature the opportunity to pick up fruits and vegetables from the garden. Among them, the cueillettes de Compans, which are accessible by bike from Paris. The itinerary passes by several pleasant places, such as the Poudrerie forest park.

The first pedal strokes are given at the level of the park of Villette, where officially begins the cycle track of the Ourcq canal, which follows the course of the old towpath. Direction Pantin! Take a look at the Grands Moulins, the Centre National de la Danse and its concrete cube, the moored barges, the ephemeral wastelands, the street art works..., before heading straight to the Bergère departmental park, in Bobigny. In summer, the place hosts festive events.

The following kilometers are clearly not the most interesting. As you pedal along, the landscape of warehouses and industrial buildings passes by without charm. Then, according to the cities crossed - Bondy, Pavillon-sous-bois, Sevran... -, pavilion areas dotted with small houses with gardens appear.

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The greenery around the canal becomes denser until you reach the Poudrerie forest park, after about fifteen kilometers. This wooded area will offer you a refreshing break, in the shade of the big trees. A small bridge, whereold rails are visible, spans the canal, which runs straight towards the Seine-et-Marne. Another fifteen kilometers or so of following the canal await you if you decide to continue to the farm.

At the level of Gressy, turn briefly on the D212 road, before taking small roads and paths through fields and villages, to reach Compans and its well-deserved pickings...

For the return trip, if the idea of working out your calves discourages you, it is possible to reach the Gare du Nord with the K line. It is (of course) also possible to take it on the way back (but shhh).

The harvests to do in spring :

• Strawberries (from early May to mid-October)
• Raspberries (early August to mid-October)
• Currants (from early June to early August)
• Mirabelles (mid-July to mid-August)
• Blackberries (early August to early October)
• Pears (mid-August to early October)
• Apples (mid-July to mid-November)
• Plums (early July to early October)
• Rhubarb (mid-August to mid-October)