Two distinctive themes shape the way Guermantes is viewed: Marcel Proust’s literary connection to the place name and the landscape along the ru de la Gondoire. The history of the Château de Guermantes and a range of walking and exercise options also feature. When planning, it is worth distinguishing between a route along the watercourse, an annual running event, and tours focused on particular themes or sports.
Landscape and Routes
The ru de la Gondoire flows north of Guermantes at the bottom of a small valley and is a small tributary of the Marne. Two official routes offer different landmarks: “Découverte de la vallée de la Gondoire” follows the ru through Chanteloup-en-Brie, Guermantes and Conches-sur-Gondoire; “De la Gondoire à la Brosse” starts from a car park on Avenue Charles Péguy in Guermantes and heads towards Conches-sur-Gondoire. The first follows the watercourse and passes through three municipalities; the second is described in terms of its starting point at the car park and its direction towards Conches.
The Mara-trail de Marne et Gondoire also passes through Guermantes. In early June, the village sets up a refreshment station there for the runners. As an annual running event, the trail has a seasonal connection. Routes and organisation may change; check the latest dates and details for your travel year.
Walking and Exercise Options
Rando méli-mélo offers botanical or culinary walks as well as classic and sports walks, and Nordic walking. Specific event dates may change. Le Cairn de Guermantes offers health walks, gentle or wellness-focused walks, leisurely walks and discovery walks. Schedules and participation requirements there may also change.
The municipality also lists a Parcours de santé, a fitness and health trail, as an option for exercise and sport. It describes numerous footpaths as an opportunity for residents to get active.
The Château and Proust
The Château de Guermantes is partially protected as a historic monument. The listings date from 9 August 1944 and 21 December 1970; the main construction phases belong to the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries. The protection dates and building history refer to different aspects of the historic structure. In 2008, the Château was sold and converted into a conference centre. It is not open to visitors; as access may change, check its visitor status before your trip.
Marcel Proust immortalised Guermantes in the third volume of “À la recherche du temps perdu”, “Du côté de Guermantes”. Gallimard published the volume in 1921. Proust visited Guermantes to thank the owners of the Château for allowing him to use its name in his literary work. Thus, the literary connection to the place and the story behind the use of the name sit side by side: one leads into Proust’s novels, the other to his gratitude to the Château’s owners.
Getting There by Bus
Bus route 2226 of the Marne-la-Vallée bus network serves Guermantes and connects the municipality with Bussy-Saint-Georges station (RER A) and Lagny-Thorigny station (TER P). If your journey includes either of these rail connections, you can use the bus route as a direct link between Guermantes and the stations. Check the latest route and timetable information before travelling.
Discover More Destinations
Vaires-Sur-Marne, La Chapelle-la-Reine, Émerainville, Marolles-sur-Seine, Servon, Villiers-Sur-Morin, Saint-Sauveur-Lès-Bray, Souppes-sur-Loing
For the main travel overview: Seine-Et-Marne.
