© La Seine Musicale
Hauts-de-Seine is a dynamic and affluent department in the western suburbs of Paris. It is the smallest department of the Ile-de-France region, but also the most densely populated.
The Olympic Flame will make multiple stops in Hauts-de-Seine, starting with the Haras de Jardy and the Mont-valérien. The former is a top-notch equestrian and sports complex, which hosted numerous international horse riding events, and stands out with its commitment to excellence and its beautiful natural setting.
© Haras de Jardy
The Mont-Valérien is a medieval place of worship that became a military fortress in the 19th century. It was the main place where resistance fighters and hostages were executed in France by the Nazi army during the Second World War.
Hauts-de-Seine’s history is tied with art and culture. Two of the most famous paintings of George Seurat, groundbreaking Post-Impressionist artist and father of Pointillism, depicted scenes in the department: “Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte” and “Bathers at Asnieres”.
Bathers at Asnières © The National Gallery / A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte © MoMA
In the early 20th century, Boulogne-Billancourt became a major center for the French film industry. It hosted several prominent film studios, notably the Pathé and Gaumont studios, which were among the first in France. While primarily filmed in Montmartre, some studio work for “Amélie Poulain” by Jean-Pierre Jeunet was conducted in Boulogne. Nowadays, Boulogne remains an attractive cultural hub. It is home to the music venue the Seine Musicale, famous for its innovative architecture and picturesque location on an island in the Seine River.
Sceaux
Located in the southern suburbs of Paris, Sceaux offers a blend of historical charm, natural beauty, and modern living. The town gained prominence in the 17th century when Jean-Baptiste Colbert, the finance minister of Louis XIV, purchased the estate and built the Château de Sceaux. The original château was demolished during the French Revolution, but it was rebuilt in the 19th century by the Duke of Trévise. Today, it houses the Musée de l'Île-de-France, which showcases the history and culture of the Île-de-France region.
Inside the Castle of Sceaux © Lucie Vallée
Devised by the famous landscape architect André Le Nôtre – who also designed the gardens of Versailles, Saint-Germain-en-Laye, Fontainebleau and many more – Parc de Sceaux is one of the highlights of the area. The park spans over 180 hectares and features beautifully manicured gardens, grand alleys, ornamental lakes, cascades and fountains. The Cherry Blossom Festival in Parc de Sceaux is particularly popular, attracting many visitors every spring.
Castle of Sceaux © Sortir à Paris
Colombes
Once a rural village traversed by carriages from the 16th century, then becoming a holiday destination in the 19th century and an ever-growing industrial city, Colombes is rich with its centuries-old history.
© Stade Yves-du-Manoir Official Website
Colombes gained a worldwide sporting reputation when it was chosen for the 1924 Paris Olympic Games. The Olympic village and the main stadium, the Stade Yves-du-Manoir, were built there. During the 1924 Games, the stadium hosted the opening and closing ceremonies, the athletics, gymnastics, tennis, football, and rugby events. It was later expanded to a capacity of over 60,000, when it became the main venue for the 1938 FIFA World. Colombes hosted a number of French Cup finals and home games of the national football and national rugby teams until the 1970s.
In the 2024 Olympics, the Stade Yves-du-Manoir will host all the field hockey matches.
Nanterre
Nanterre serves as a pivotal economic center, being home to the La Défense business district, which is the largest purpose-built business district in Europe. This district is home to the headquarters of numerous major multinational corporations across diverse sectors, including banking, information technology, manufacturing, and services.
La Défense © Posterlounge
La Défense Arena, Europe's largest indoor venue with a total capacity of 40 000 people, regularly hosts concerts and sporting events. For the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, the venue will also host the water polo finals.
Did you know?
Nanterre is the administrative capital of Hauts-de-Seine, hosting the departmental government and administrative offices. The presence of the Court of Justice underscores its political importance.
Sport Facts
Hauts-de-Seine has strong ties with sports. There are many top level clubs from the department:
Racing 92: a historic men’s rugby club based in Le-Plessis Robinson, that has almost always played in the first league since it was founded in 1892.
Levallois Paris Saint-Cloud: women’s volleyball first league
Le Plessis-Robinson Volley-ball: men’s first league
Paris 92: top-division women’s handball team based in Issy-les-Moulineaux.
Metropolitans 92, based in Levallois, finished 2nd in the French basketball league last season.
The Hauts-de-Seine department nurtured many talented athletes. More than 30 of them will represent France in the upcoming Olympic and Paralympic games, including basketball rising star Bilal Coulibaly (born in Saint-Cloud and former Metropolitans 92 player), and elite football striker Marie-Antoinette Katoto (born and started her career in Colombes).
Bilal Coulibaly © SLAM Magazine / Marie-Antoinette Katoto © Journal des Femmes