Fancy escaping to a place with a rich heritage, majestic forests and great local food? Then you're going to love the Yvelines! Less than 30 minutes from Paris by train, this ‘département grandeur nature’ is like a little France in itself, with its first-rate historic sites, picturesque villages, new towns and contrasting landscapes between the banks of the impressionist Seine, forested valleys and agricultural plains. At the heart of the Versailles Grand Parc conurbation, three tourist areas - Versailles, Bougival and Jouy-en-Josas - are easy to discover without a car, thanks to the TER regional express train and bus network, with tourist offices in each of the towns.

In terms of culture and heritage, it's impossible to miss the Château de Versailles and its gardens, listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1979, which plunge you into the sumptuous epic of the kings of France. Right next door, the Potager du Roi (King's Kitchen Garden) unveils its historic squares of fruit and vegetables. Change the mood by heading to Bougival: the Maison Berthe Morisot and the Impressionist Trail tell the story of how Monet, Renoir and Morisot immortalised the reflections of the Seine. In Jouy-en-Josas, make a detour to the Musée de la Toile de Jouy to find out all about the Indian fabrics that clothed the world in the eighteenthᵉ century.

Nature: spanning over 200 km² of woods, moors and ponds, the area between the Vallée de Chevreuse and the vast Rambouillet forest is perfect for hiking, cycling and climbing all year round. If you're passionate about sustainable travel, you'll love the major cycle routes: The Avenue Verte Paris-Londres, the Scandibérique/EuroVelo 3 and the Véloscénie to Mont-Saint-Michel cross the area between Versailles, Chevreuse and Rambouillet. For a bucolic interlude, nothing beats a picnic on the banks of the Seine in Bougival, where the impressionists' easels have been replaced by bicycles and kayaks.

As for your taste buds, farmers' markets, educational farms and shops selling locally sourced produce are all part of local life. Gourmets will be spoilt for choice: by 2025, the department will boast seven Michelin-starred restaurants, including one that has been awarded a Green Star in recognition of its commitment to sustainability. Wash it all down with some farmhouse apple juice or a craft beer brewed in the Vallée de Chevreuse and you'll soon see why the Yvelines is attractive to both lovers of culture and fans of the great outdoors.