Located west of the capital city, Paris, the departement of Hauts-de-Seine has become a popular area with commuters and is now a busy and bustling region with lots of small, new towns. These have built themselves up around the older, more traditional communities and buildings that had existed here for decades or even centuries. This makes for an interesting contrast between modern areas like La Defense and the Malmaison Castle, former residence of Napoleon Bonaparte. There are even some remaining green, outdoor spaces if you are looking for an escape from the city.
The business district of La Defense is filled with skyscrapers and office blocks that were built here on the outskirts because there is a local law forbidding their construction within the city of Paris itself. Strangely, La Defense has become a tourist attraction in its own right, with outdoor sculptures and works of art, great restaurants and the famous Grand Arch. Lined up exactly with the Arc de Triomphe on the Champs Elysees and the smaller copy in Tuilleries gardens, the Grand Arch is a great place to get a view across the whole of Paris.
A short distance from La Defense is the Malmaison Castle, a typically French country house that was used by Napoleon and his wife Jospehine as their permanent residence and also home to some government departments in the 19th century. The building is now home to a museum detailing its fascinating history, while the impressively large grounds are a great place for a quiet stroll after the noise of La Defense!
The historical town of Sevres is most famous for the ceramics and pottery that have been produced there for 300 years. The town itself has some interesting and attractive buildings and churches, but the main attraction is undoubtedly the National Ceramics Museum which has examples of this art from all over France on display. Close to the town of Sevres is the Meudon forest, one of the few remaining areas of wilderness that have not been developed in Hauts-de-Seine. Popular with local people as well as visitors, the network of paths that cross the forest are ideal for walking or even jogging if you prefer. The Sceaux park in the south of the region is similarly used by locals for their own exercise routines, though this is a more laid-out and organised garden, with a collection of fountains and a summer music festival.
Looking for self catering holiday accommodation in Hauts-de-Seine? Then below is a selection of gites in Hauts-de-Seine and villas in Hauts-de-Seine that can be rented direct from their owners. You can either click on each listing for further details or you can use our search engine on the left if you are looking for something in particular.
