Yvelines: a “Little France” on the doorstep of Paris
Made up of remarkable villages and new towns, the Yvelines department is renowned for the richness and diversity of its natural heritage, with many green spaces, forests, and waterways. It is also famous for its exceptional cultural and architectural heritage, as well as its many tourist and historic attractions. Lastly, it stands out for its economic attractiveness in sectors such as the automotive industry, aeronautics, and healthcare, and it confirms its commitment to research, industry, innovation, and higher education with, in particular, the opening in October 2025 of the Mines Paris PSL Innovation Campus in Versailles-Satory.
Yvelines offers an outstanding quality of life, where sport helps enhance the region’s profile and vitality. Cycling plays a leading role here, with the hosting of major events, starting with Paris-Nice. The partnership between the Department and Amaury Sport Organisation (A.S.O.), in place for over 15 years and renewed in December 2025 through to 2029, enables it to host the 1st stage and the start of the 2nd stage of this famous “Course au soleil” (Race to the Sun).
Achères, Carrières-sous-Poissy and Épône in the spotlight for this 84th edition
Cycling in Yvelines also means the Tour de France and the annual start of the final stage, thanks once again to the strong partnership between the Department and A.S.O. The start of the 21st and final stage of the 2026 Tour de France, the 113th edition, will take place in Thoiry on Sunday, July 26.
Awarded the “Terre de Vélo” label, the Yvelines Department actively supports the development of sustainable mobility and pursues a long-term policy to promote intermodality, expand its cycling network, and encourage cycling for everyone. “Slow tourism” is especially well suited here, with three major European cycle routes: the Avenue Verte London–Paris®, linking the two capitals; the Véloscénie between Paris and Mont-Saint-Michel; and La Seine à Vélo between Paris and Le Havre / Deauville.
Through its sports policy, the Yvelines Department builds on the legacy of the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games as a host authority and continues to work for the people of Yvelines to ensure access to sport and para-sport for all, everywhere across the territory.