The Musée Français de la Carte à Jouer adds a distinctive cultural dimension to Issy-Les-Moulineaux: the historic Pavillon Conti houses collections on the town’s history, while a nearby modern building is devoted to playing cards. This means one museum brings together the local past and a dedicated subject area focused on playing cards.
Museums, Art and Cultural History
The Galerie d’Histoire de la Ville at the Musée Français de la Carte à Jouer explores the history of Issy, the Château des Princes de Conti and the beginnings of aviation. The city’s connections with Rodin, Matisse and Dubuffet are also among its themes. Visitors focusing on art and local history will find a range of perspectives brought together in one collection.
The museum’s programme includes traditional and modern games, magic shows, escape games and art history courses. As the programme may change, it is best to check the dates in advance when planning your visit. Another cultural venue is Le Temps des Cerises, located in the former casemates of Fort d’Issy. Its programme encompasses multidisciplinary cultural, recreational, digital and scientific activities. The digital Micro-Folies museum now offers more than 6,000 works from national institutions and museums.
The Conservatoire Niedermeyer offers a broad range of instruction, from early music to jazz and from introductory music and dance classes to advanced training. Its adult division promotes group music-making by amateurs. Music education and communal activities thus complement the town’s museum and art offerings.
Churches and Historic Buildings
The Église Saint-Etienne was built between 1634 and 1645 in the centre of the former medieval village. Among its protected works of art is one of the oldest Romanesque tympanums in Île-de-France. Inside are stained-glass windows from the 19th century and the turn of the 20th century, as well as paintings from the late 19th century. Guided tours are scheduled separately.
The Domaine du séminaire Saint-Sulpice is partly listed and partly classified as a historic monument; it is fully protected. Its architectural heritage includes a vaulted passage dating from around 1599. Another architectural feature is the Nymphée: this rocaille-style pavilion dates from the 17th century, when the estate belonged to Marguerite de Valois, Queen Margot. Its exceptionally rare design is decorated with mosaics made from shells, pebbles and stones.
The former Hospice des Ménages, now Hôpital Corentin Celton, also reflects Issy’s architectural history. The building was constructed between 1860 and 1863 to plans by the architect Véra. Together with the churches and park grounds, it shows how different periods are represented in the townscape.
Parks, Gardens and Routes
Parc de l’Île Saint-Germain is the largest park in Issy-Les-Moulineaux. Its rolling lawns alternate with wooded areas. Facilities there include playgrounds, two dog parks and a pony club. Parc Saint Jean-Paul II offers a different focus: it is protected as a historic monument and has a playground, a fitness trail, a pond and extensive lawns for ball games.
The gardens also vary in their themes. At Fort d’Issy is the 500 m² Jardin japonais d’Ichikawa, created with the support of gardeners from the city of the same name. The public Jardin des Milles Roses, also known as the Jardin de la Cour d’Honneur, lies between Rue Guynemer and Parvis Corentin Celton. Its rose collection and a playground are defining features of the garden. In the park near the Tour aux figures, themed gardens—including a lavender garden with Mediterranean scents—add to the selection.
At the original Fort d’Issy, the entrance on Rue du Fort and the landscaped curtain walls along Chemin du Colonel Arnaud Beltrame have been preserved. You can walk around the neighbourhood along these features; on the way, you will pass 86 community garden plots. Another green route is the 2.2-kilometre “Au coeur de l'Ile Saint-Germain” trail, which passes sculptures and various gardens. Check the current route status when planning your visit.
For cyclists, a cycle path runs above the riverside promenade along the Seine, from the Meudon area and beyond the Issy bridge. Issy Guinguette adds a vineyard plot to the garden offerings: it covers 300 m² and produces 200 to 300 bottles of white wine each year; production may vary. When choosing what to explore during your stay, you can therefore choose from cultural history, architecture, a variety of parks and gardens, and cycling.
Discover more destinations: Suresnes, Meudon, Clichy, Gennevilliers, Levallois-Perret, Le Plessis-Robinson, Boulogne-Billancourt, Montrouge.
Go to the main travel overview: Hauts-De-Seine.
