In Varennes-Jarcy, you can explore local walking routes and historical landmarks as distinct highlights. Three routes in the “Balades à Varennes” begin and end in the town centre. Saint-Sulpice Church combines a construction period in the 13th century with later tombs and a marble sculpture. You can therefore plan your visit according to whether you would rather spend time outdoors or explore the local heritage.
Three circular routes, three distances
The “Balades à Varennes” include circular routes of 4 km, 3 km and 5 km; all start and end in the town centre. The distances make for a straightforward comparison: the 3 km loop is the shortest, the 5 km loop the longest, and the 4 km loop falls in between. If you use distance as a selection criterion, you have three clearly measured options to choose from.
Along the routes, you can discover the landscapes, fauna and flora of the municipality. This also means treating the environments you pass through with care. The focus on nature adds a different perspective to the distances: as well as choosing how far to walk, you can take in your surroundings along the way and be considerate of them.
Saint-Sulpice: construction and works of art
Saint-Sulpice Church was built between 1269 and 1282. It contains three tombstones, two of which have been classified as historic monuments since February 1915. The church also houses a white marble sculpture of the Mater Dolorosa from the late 17th century, which has held this historic monument status since 1911. The construction period and the classifications mark different historical layers: the years 1911 and 1915 refer to the classifications, not the creation of the works.
Specific conditions apply when visiting the church: it is accessible during town hall opening hours. To visit, register at the town hall with an identity document and check local opening hours in advance. This will help you plan your visit in accordance with the applicable procedure.
Traces of Notre-Dame de Jarcy Abbey
Notre-Dame de Jarcy Abbey was founded in 1269 by the Countess of Toulouse and Poitiers, sister-in-law of Saint Louis. Several cellars, the beginnings of underground passageways and the base of a former small tower remain from the abbey church. The “Tour des cloches” is visible from the road. Alongside the abbey’s foundation, the focus is therefore on specific surviving remains of the abbey church.
The Moulin de Jarcy is also part of the abbey’s history. The watermill was acquired by the nuns in 1279 and belonged to the abbey’s estate. In chronological terms, the mill’s acquisition came after the abbey’s foundation in 1269; the two dates refer to different events. Another named heritage site is La Feuilleraie: this 18th-century manor house bears the “Patrimoine d’intérêt régional” label.
The Yerres Valley and practical planning
The landscape, as well as individual buildings, has a protected status. The lower Yerres Valley and its surroundings between Villeneuve-Saint-Georges and Varennes-Jarcy were classified as a protected site by a decree dated 23 December 2006. This designation applies to the valley and its surroundings, offering a different scale of focus from the history of individual buildings.
Another cultural attraction is the publicly accessible miniature train exhibition run by the “Le petit train de Saint Saint-Exupéry” association in Varennes-Jarcy. Check the visiting arrangements before you travel. This visit can be planned just as carefully as a visit to Saint-Sulpice, for which the town hall’s opening hours and registration with an identity document are key.
If travelling by public transport, take the RER D towards Combs-la-Ville, then continue on STRAV bus route S. Check the current connection before departure, as timetables or operators may change. Among the three walking routes, the historical landmarks and the protected landscape, you can choose the themes that will shape your stay in Varennes-Jarcy.
Discover more destinations: Villebon-Sur-Yvette, Tigery, Chalou-Moulineux, Villeneuve-Sur-Auvers, Viry-Châtillon, Longjumeau, Lardy, Quincy-Sous-Sénart.
For the wider travel overview: Essonne.
