Pont-Sainte-Maxence / Ermenonville/Ver-sur-Launette

From Pontpoint, crossing Halatte Forest, the little royal city of Senlis lies just a short ride away. Between the village of Villemétrie and the border with the Ile-de-France Region (encompassing Paris and the counties surrounding it), you feel a world away from the sprawling capital. The wooded route resembles France’s largest forest, Les Landes, in southwest France. Pines, heather and wide sandy stretches feature, the last encouraging the creation of one of the county of Oise’s leading theme parks, La Mer de Sable. To explore it, as well as Chaalis Royal Abbey, the Musée Jacquemart André and the Jean-Jacques Rousseau Park, you’ll need to leave the woods behind!

The route

You alternate between minor roads and wide forest paths. Note the steep little slope after Pontpoint Church to reach the forest. From Le Moncel Royal Abbey at Pont-Sainte-Maxence, the way is shared with the Avenue Verte London-Paris cycle route up to Senlis. Then there is specific signposting in place for the EV3 up to Ver-sur-Launette. South of Senlis, at time of writing a deviation had been put in place to avoid an army firing range – follow the signposts.
Surfacing in parts smooth, in parts rough: compacted tracks and asphalt. There are a few stretches on rough farm tracks.

Link 
Connections with the Avenue Verte London-Paris cycle route at Pontpoint and Senlis.

Trains

• Pont-Sainte-Maxence train station :  Intercités ⇄Paris, Saint-Quentin, Maubeuge, regional TER train ⇄Compiègne
• From Senlis, coaches to Creil and Chantilly, or then there’s a signposted cycle route to Chantilly train station 
• Close by, Le Plessis-Belleville train station: regional TER trains Paris ⇄ Crépy-en-Valois

Don't miss

• Halatte Forest
• Senlis: the Gothic Cathedral; the well-preserved historic town centre; the Gallo-Roman temple; the Musée des Spahis (on a North African regiment that fought for France); the Musée de la Vénerie (on hunting); the ecological park...
• Ermenonville Forest
• Fontaine-Chaalis: Chaalis Royal Abbey; the Mer de Sable (theme park)
• Parc Jean-Jacques Rousseau
• Close by: Chantilly, famed for its castle and adjoining stables and racecourse