Located around thirty kilometres from Paris, Trappes is a dynamic town that is constantly evolving. This ancient medieval town boasts a rich historical past that is reflected in its extensive heritage. A farming town and then a railway town, Trappes is also a veritable green lung in the heart of the Yvelines. JOOKS takes you on a journey of discovery through this little-known town on six tourist and sporting routes.
While the town has faced social and economic challenges in recent decades, including problems related to urban development, integration and socio-economic disparities, efforts have been made to improve the living conditions and economic prospects of residents. Today, Trappes is a city on the move, with a wide range of services for the population, a large number of high-quality infrastructures and renowned higher education establishments.
A town steeped in history
Inhabited since Neolithic times, the site developed into a rural village at the crossroads of the Roman roads linking Paris and Dreux. In the Middle Ages, Trappes was a renowned trading town and part of the domain of the Abbey of Saint-Denis. The town was fortified, but this did not prevent it from being pillaged on numerous occasions. Although nothing remains of these fortifications today, you can still admire the remains of the fortified castle on the site of the Municipal Technical Centre.
During the 16th century, Trappes saw its population grow due to its proximity to Paris and its location on important trade routes. Part of its territory even became part of the Versailles estate, and the Etang de Saint-Quentin was created to supply the palace's fountains and water features.
In the 19th century, Trappes underwent a period of industrial expansion, particularly with the development of the railways and the establishment of factories and industries. The town gradually became one of the most important railway centres in the country. Many reminders of its railway past can still be seen in the streets of the town. Our Cultural Route will take you to the Cité des Dents de Scie and the marshalling yard.
Trappes, a green city
With almost 300 square metres of public green space per inhabitant, Trappes is a veritable oasis of greenery. Foremost among these green spaces is the pond of Trappes, formerly known as the pond of Saint-Quentin, the largest body of water in the Yvelines. Now a leisure and open-air centre, the western part of the lake is classified as a nature reserve and is a wintering ground for many migratory birds. More than 230 species of bird inhabit the 90 hectares of the reserve.
The town also has a number of parks and gardens, such as Parc de la Plaine de Neauphle and Parc du Cèdre, as well as well-developed footpaths such as Sente de Bougainville and Mail de l'Aqueduc, which link different districts. With our Green Lung trail, you can take a deep breath of fresh air and nature, from the Île de loisirs to the Bassin de la Boissière.
A number of initiatives have also been taken by the local authority to bring a touch of nature to the city. Chickens and sheep have been introduced into some schools, beehives have been installed in some neighbourhoods, gardening workshops are open to residents, and so on.
A city of sports
In addition to the Leisure Island, which offers a wide range of sporting, aquatic and land-based activities, the town of Trappes has a number of sports facilities accessible to all, spread throughout the municipality: several city stadiums, a municipal swimming pool, a Sports Centre, sports complexes with fencing pistes, handball, basketball, badminton and volleyball courts, dance, gymnastics and martial arts studios, and street workout areas. JOOKS offers two routes that will allow you to make the most of these outdoor spaces and green areas through a series of sports exercises.
The city has also been awarded the ‘Ville active et sportive’ label (level 3) for its actions in favour of sport. Created in 2017, the aim of this label is to highlight and encourage projects that promote sporting activities in an area. More than 600 towns in France have been awarded this certification.
Run, walk or cycle with JOOKS, from the Cité des Dents de scie to the Île de loisirs!
Find all the routes in the town of Trappes and over 1500 others on the JOOKS application.
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