Yvelines, a constellation of popular tourist destinations steeped in history, remarkable villages and new cities, with 80% of natural and rural areas, is a scale model of France.
This corner of the world spans 259 municipalities and boasts a vibrant economic scene in sectors such as research, information technologies, the motor industry, agriculture, aeronautics and healthcare.
Yvelines takes pride in its "Terre de Vélo" label and has made developing soft mobility one of its priorities. It pursues long-term policies to encourage intermodality, expand its cycling network and urge people to take up cycling. Yvelines is a natural "slow tourism" hub, with three of the main European cycle routes as its spokes: the Avenue Verte London Paris® connecting the two capitals, the Véloscénie between Paris and Mont-Saint-Michel and La Seine à Vélo between Paris and Le Havre/Deauville.
Sport also contributes to the projection and the hustle and bustle of the department with 400,000 licence holders. Cycling has pride of place here, particularly in the shape of major events. Chief among them is Paris-Nice, the fruit of a close partnership struck with ASO in 2010, which includes hosting the first two stages of the famous “La Course au Soleil” (Race to the Sun) until 2025. This year, that privilege goes to Les Mureaux and Thoiry.
Yvelines was awarded the "Terre de Jeux" label in 2019 - one of 87 local authorities and 32 Olympic Games preparation centres that have received it for Paris 2024 - and is a host of the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games. Its five Olympic venues stand ready to welcome five disciplines next summer, five of which involve cycling: track cycling, track para-cycling and the BMX race at the Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines National Velodrome, the MTB event on Élancourt Hill and the road cycling event in the Chevreuse Valley.
Equestrian sports, modern pentathlon and para-equestrian sports will take place at the Palace of Versailles, the golf event at Le Golf National in Guyancourt, and the marathon on a course passing through Versailles and Viroflay.
Yvelines will also roll out the red carpet for the Olympic torch relay. On Tuesday, 23 July, the Olympic torch will stop in seven towns and cities in the department, with the cauldron lighting ceremony held in Madame Elisabeth's estate in Versailles. On Tuesday, 27 August, it will be the turn of the Paralympic torch to make its journey through the department, featuring a visit to the Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines National Velodrome.
