Ideally located on the banks of the Seine a few kilometres south-west of Paris, the town of Issy-les-Moulineaux attracts visitors not only because of its rich historical past, but also because of its many parks and green spaces, which offer a privileged living environment. Issy-les-Moulineaux has also been awarded the title of " Terre de Jeux 2024 " (Land of the 2024 Games), welcoming Olympic and Paralympic delegations from all over the world. Discover Issy-les-Moulineaux on foot, by bike or in a wheelchair with the routes available on the JOOKS app!
A mainly working-class town until the 1980s, Issy-les-Moulineaux has become a major communications hub in just a few years.
The establishment of press, publishing and audiovisual companies, as well as numerous international head offices (Microsoft, Coca-Cola, Sodexo, etc.), has given the town a new lease of life. Nicknamed "Médialand", the town is now one of France's leading centres for new technologies and enjoys an international reputation.
A little history...
The town of Issy-les Moulineaux, which has a rich history stretching back thousands of years, reached its apogee in the 17th century, thanks to the presence of the great and the good of the Court of the time, notably the famous "Reine Margot". Marguerite de Valois, the first wife of King Henry IV, lived in the town for some time, escaping the plague epidemic that hit Paris. Your walk will take you along the traces of the former château occupied by the sovereign, where the Saint-Sulpice seminary now stands. The princes of Conti, meanwhile, made the château d'Issy their country home. Although the château has now disappeared, some of its remains can still be seen throughout the town, such as the three niches opposite the pond in Henri Barbusse Park.
Issy-les-Moulineaux was also the scene of terrible battles, particularly at the time of the fall of Napoleon I in 1815 and during the Second World War, with the German bombardments. But the event that undoubtedly left the greatest mark on the town was the Battle of Issy, which pitted the Communards against the Versaillais during the Paris Commune in 1871. Almost half of the town's houses and public buildings were demolished during the fighting. The Fort eco-neighbourhood, which you will discover on your walk, was built on the site of the old fortress that defended the road to Paris.
The banks of the Seine and the rural setting of Issy-les-Moulineaux make it an attractive place for artists of all kinds. The town was home to the famous painter Henri Matisse, who lived there for several years, the sculptor Auguste Rodin, and the photographer Jacques-Henri Lartigue. Lartigue, an aviation enthusiast, used to attend the flight tests and the distance and speed records that were set on the local airfields. Issy-les-Moulineaux is in fact one of the cradles of French aviation, thanks in particular to Henri Farman, who was the first to fly a kilometre in a closed circuit plane.
Commitment to the environment
Issy-les-Moulineaux is particularly sensitive to climate issues, and adopted a municipal environment plan in the early 1990s. Numerous initiatives aimed at combating climate change and ensuring a better quality of life for residents have followed - installation of public composters, development of gardens and green spaces, sustainable construction methods for public and private buildings (Isséo charter) - and several projects are still to come.
Entire districts have been rehabilitated and new ones developed with respect for the environment. On your walk, you'll pass by the Bords de Seine eco-neighbourhood, a concentrate of ecological innovations. And don't forget to say hello to the animals on the Garibaldi embankment! Sheep and goats graze this green space, keeping it in good shape naturally. Bees and, more recently, chickens have joined them to create a major centre of biodiversity.
"Terre de Jeux"
With around fifty sports clubs, 73 disciplines and over 11,000 members, the Issy-les-Moulineaux Municipal Sports Office has a wide and varied range of sports on offer. The town also boasts modern, high-performance sports facilities. It is undoubtedly this wide range of assets that has made Issy an ideal candidate for the "Terre de Jeux 2024" label.
Not only does this certification encourage people to discover sport and its values, it is also a great way to spotlight the city and its region. The Terre de Jeux route will take you on a tour of the facilities selected to host Olympic and Paralympic delegations from around the world, including the Alain Mimoun stadium and the brand new Cité des Sports.
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