Hauts-de-Seine
Hauts-de-Seine (department number 92) is located in the Île-de-France region and makes up part of the Western suburbs of Paris. The department forms an inner ring around Paris, known as the ‘petite couronne’ along with two other small departments, Seine-Saint-Denis and Val-de-Marne.
The capital of Hauts-de-Seine is Nanterre and the towns of Antony and Boulogne-Billancourt are also of interest.
The department is small and as you would expect for the suburbs of Paris, it is densely populated with an estimated population of 1,531,996 people.
Hauts-de-Seine was only recently created in 1968 from parts of the former departments of Seine and Seine-et-Oise and is home to La Défense.
Why you should visit Hauts-de-Seine for your next holiday in France
Hauts-de-Seine is France's second wealthiest department after Paris and therefore it is pricey. However, with price come chic and stylish accommodation and the convenience of having France's capital on your doorstep.
In addition to its thriving European business district, the department has a lot to offer in the way of green areas. Parks and gardens, forests and hiking trails, feature in Hauts-de-Seine's appearance.
The Ile de France region has France's lowest rainfall; however Paris is known for its unexpected rain showers which can occur at any time of year. Summer temperatures are mild to warm, with occasional heat waves, while winters are very chilly with temperatures hovering around freezing point.
What to see and do in Hauts-de-Seine
Hauts-de-Seine is crossed by the Seine river and there is plenty to do along its banks. Big-game fishing has become extremely popular in recent times.
The chief town of the department is Nanterre and is located 11.1 km. (6.9 miles) from the centre of Paris.
The department is well known for La Défense, France's huge bustling business district with its giant towers and its immense arch 'La Grande Arche'. A small part of La Défense is contained in eastern Nanterre along with some of the tallest buildings in the Paris region.
In western Nanterre, not far from near La Défense, is the Paris X University. It is one of the 13 successor universities of the University of Paris and has the second largest campus in France after Nantes, with its own Olympic pool and a stadium. It welcomes 35.000 students every year in all fields of studies.
Situated just 11.3 km. (7 miles) from the centre of Paris is the charming town of Antony and home to the pretty church of Saint-Saturnin. The town offers a more peaceful alternative as a base from which to explore the area, with plenty of opportunities for relaxing strolls.
Boulogne-Billancourt is located 8.2 km. (5.1 miles) from the centre of Paris and the headquarters of Renault can be found here. It is the most populous suburb and one of the most densely populated municipalities in Europe. The town was once an important industrial site but is now home to major communication company's headquarters.
There are a couple of interesting places to visit while in Boulogne-Billancourt. Albert Kahn is a national museum and includes four hectares of gardens, joining together landscape scenes of various national traditions. The museum also includes historic photographs and film. Also worth visiting is The Musée des Années Trente, a museum of artistic and industrial objects from the 1930s.
How to get to Hauts-de-Seine
By Air
Both of France's major airports are located in Ile de France. Paris is just 50 minutes flying time from London's airports and most of the UK's regional airports now offer a service to Paris as well. Charles de Gaulle International Airport is 17 miles north of Paris. The city's second largest airport is the Aéroport d'Orly, which is located 10 miles south of central Paris. There is also a third smaller airport called Beauvais that handles Ryanair and charter flights.
By Road
Paris is around 290km from Calais and will take 2.5 hours to drive. The roads from Calais to Paris are well-maintained and signposted.
By Train
Paris is easily accessible by TGV from London and Brussels. Eurostar will take you to Paris from London in just under 2.5 hours.