A trip around Paris with Alban Lenoir, hero of the film AKA

• The journey around Paris in the footsteps of Alban Lenoir begins in the pretty town of Gif-sur-Yvette, located in the Essonne department south of Paris, and easily accessible by the RER B train. Located in the Vallée de Chevreuse, the town features in the film AKA through the Université Paris-Saclay. But Gif-sur-Yvette also has a wonderful heritage. No fewer than five châteaux have been built here, including the Belleville and Val Fleury châteaux, which have become cultural and artistic centres. The Château du CNRS, where the offices of the Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique are located, also stands out thanks to its park, classified as a ‘bird sanctuary’ since 1991.

• Don't miss the Notre-Dame du Val-de-Gif abbey, which is thought to have been founded in the 11th or 12th century, or the Moulin de la Tuilerie, a mecca for artistic and cultural society in the 20th century, which was bought by the Duke and Duchess of Windsor and is now a bed and breakfast.

• Gif-Sur-Yvette is also home to a surprisingly modern building, the Maison de l'Utopie. Located not far from the Jaumeron mill, it was designed by architect Marc Held and stands out thanks to its corten steel parts set on stilts. We can say it without hesitation: you've never seen a house like this! 
   
• Once you've finished your stroll, hop back on the RER and get off 28 km away at Cité Universitaire station, in the south of Paris. This other AKA film location is home to marvels of architecture and design. This ‘world city’ welcomes 12,000 students, researchers and artists from 150 different countries every year. But visitors go there above all to discover its magnificent houses, all inspired by the culture they represent. These include La Maison du Brésil, designed by Lucio Costa and Le Corbusier, and listed as a Historic Monument. Like the magnificent Fondation Deutsch de la Meurthe, inspired by English colleges, and a must-see thanks to its bay window and stone capitals. Don't miss the Maison du Maroc or the Maison du Japon either, and don't forget to book one of the tours on offer, ideal for learning more about the history of these exceptional buildings. 
   
• Then back to transport, taking the tram to Bagnolet, whose town hall features in the film AKA. As well as the historic heritage of this town in eastern Paris, with the churches of Saint-Leu Saint-Gilles and Notre-Dame de Pontmain, we recommend a visit to the ‘château’ de l'Étang for exhibitions, and the art foundry on rue Danton. This is where the Molières, Césars and Victoires de la musique awards come from. You can't come to Bagnolet without visiting the Parc des Hauteurs, which offers some memorable views over the town and its surroundings. And don't forget the city's exciting street art tours. 
   
• And to round off the day, we're off to Montreuil, where the AKA team has also set up camp. See its orchards, famous since the 16th century for their tasty fruit. Admire Paul Signac's neo-Impressionist painting Au temps de l'Harmonie, painted in 1895 and on display in the town hall. Or take a stroll through the city's film culture. It was in Montreuil that Georges Méliès built the world's first film studio, and that Emile Raynaud invented the cartoon. The town also boasts a number of cultural venues, including the Méliès cinema and the La Pêche café and its music scene, perfect for rounding off an already busy first day.
   

For an overnight stay, we recommend Hôtel PiaPia, located between Nation and Père Lachaise in Paris's 20th arrondissement. In addition to its eco-label, the establishment offers a cosy, fun atmosphere for family and friends, with even a games room at weekends. The ideal place to relax after a day's sightseeing.

• For this second day out of Paris, following in the footsteps of Alban Lenoir, we're heading to a famous regional attraction just an hour from Paris on the J and H lines: Auvers-sur-Oise. In this land favoured by the Impressionist painters, the itinerary for your visit is self-created thanks to the ‘chemin des peintres’ (painters' path). This open-air museum offers a 9km itinerary along which you can discover the sites painted by Vincent Van Gogh, such as the church, the town hall and the cornfield with its crows. Auvers is also home to the Auberge Ravoux (where the painter spent his last 70 days, in room number 5), the Maison du Docteur Gachet and the cemetery where the painter is buried next to his brother.
   
• The town is also a great place to discover or rediscover the work of Cézanne, Daubigny, Renoir, le Douanier Rousseau and Pissarro. The Musée Daubigny offers visitors the chance to immerse themselves in the paintings of a precursor of Impressionism, celebrated for his landscapes of the Oise and Seine rivers. His Maison-Atelier, opened in 1861, is an artistic jewel not to be missed under any circumstances, which he decorated alongside Corot, Daumier, Oudinot and Geoffroy de Chaume. 
   
• And if you still have a little time to wander, take advantage of Auvers' pretty flower-lined streets, and visit the many talented craftsmen (ceramists, felt-makers, cabinet-makers) who perpetuate the town's artistic history.

Read also:

• Where can you find the cult locations from the series Emily in Paris?
• 8 emblematic French locations seen in the Lupin series
   

Find out more :

• Discovering Paris and the surrounding region