Parc départemental Pierre-Lagravère, often called by its old name, Parc de l'Île Marante, is a

public park An urban park or metropolitan park, also known as a city park, municipal park (North America), public park, public open space, or municipal gardens (United Kingdom, UK), is a park or botanical garden in cities, densely populated suburbia and oth ...

located on the banks of the river

Seine The Seine ( , ) is a river in northern France. Its drainage basin is in the Paris Basin (a geological relative lowland) covering most of northern France. It rises at Source-Seine, northwest of Dijon in northeastern France in the Langres plat ...

Colombes Colombes () is a Communes of France, commune in the northwestern suburbs of Paris, France, from the Kilometre zero, centre of Paris. In 2019, Colombes was the List of communes in France with over 20,000 inhabitants, 53rd largest city in France. ...

, northwest of

Paris Paris () is the Capital city, capital and List of communes in France with over 20,000 inhabitants, largest city of France. With an estimated population of 2,048,472 residents in January 2025 in an area of more than , Paris is the List of ci ...

. It is also the seat of Centre sportif municipal Parc Lagravère, a public multisports complex. Its common name comes from its location on Île Marante, a former island in the Seine. The island's now disappeared English-style garden designed by Claude-Henri Watelet was a favorite getaway for the local nobility during the

Ancien Régime ''Ancien'' may refer to * the French word for " ancient, old" ** Société des anciens textes français * the French for "former, senior" ** Virelai ancien ** Ancien Régime ** Ancien Régime in France {{disambig ...

. The area was also a popular subject for painters, especially impressionists such as Gustave Caillebotte and

Claude Monet Oscar-Claude Monet (, ; ; 14 November 1840 – 5 December 1926) was a French painter and founder of Impressionism painting who is seen as a key precursor to modernism, especially in his attempts to paint nature as he perceived it. During his ...

, who lived in Colombes and nearby Argenteuil, respectively, and frequently sailed the Seine. The island was joined to the mainland circa 1965 to provide foundations for the building of the A86 autoroute, which today stands between the park and downtown Colombes (several bridges connect both sides).
The city of Colombes and the département of

Hauts-de-Seine Hauts-de-Seine (; ) is a department in the Île-de-France region of France. It covers Paris's western inner suburbs. It is bordered by Paris, Seine-Saint-Denis and Val-de-Marne to the east, Val-d'Oise to the north, Yvelines to the west and ...

split jurisdiction over the newly accessible land. The city used parts of it to create a second sports and recreation district, separate from the historic

Stade Yves-du-Manoir The Stade Yves-du-Manoir (officially Stade olympique Yves-du-Manoir, also known as the Stade olympique de Colombes, or simply Colombes to the locals) is a rugby, track, and association football stadium in Colombes, near Paris, France. History ...

. Meanwhile, the département took over the surrounding areas and remodelled them as a public park loosely inspired by the old Watelet garden. The park opened in 1973, and in 1985 was renamed after Pierre Lagravère, who was the first president of the département upon its creation in 1968.

Cycling and jogging

Parc Lagravère is the final stop of the Promenade Bleue, a bike and walking trail created in 2010 that became a leg of the Paris–London Avenue Verte in 2012. Since 1991, the venue has offered a BMX park, which is managed by a resident club. The route of the

1924 Summer Olympics The 1924 Summer Olympics (), officially the Games of the VIII Olympiad () and officially branded as Paris 1924, were an international multi-sport event held in Paris, France. The opening ceremony was held on 5 July, but some competitions had al ...

cross country race ran alongside Île Marante, although it stayed on the dam built on the mainland side, and did not venture onto the island proper as only a barge allowed crossings at the time.

Centre sportif municipal Parc Lagravère

Olympic swimming pool

The first step taken to establish Île Marante as a sports complex was to replace the city's relatively recent outdoor swimming pool, located downtown in the vicinity of Stade Yves-du-Manoir, with a new indoor facility on the former island, which opened in 1969. Like the park's future ice rink, it was designed by architect Henry Pottier, who was in charge of an urban renewal plan for the northwestern districts of Colombes at the time. In addition to being used by the hometown Colombes Natation, it has also been used by Racing Club de France as the club has strong ties to the city.
The pool is being renovated for use as a training facility during the

2024 Olympic Games The 2024 Summer Olympics (), officially the Games of the XXXIII Olympiad () and branded as Paris 2024, were an international multi-sport event held in France from 26 July to 11 August 2024, with several events started from 24 July. P ...

Philippe Candeloro Ice Rink

An ice rink was added to the park in 1974. In 2018, it was renamed after ISU World Championship and Olympic medal winning figure skater Philippe Candeloro, who grew up and started his career in Colombes.
It served as the home ice for the Français Volants, Paris' oldest existing hockey team, across several stints in the mid 1970s and 1980s. However, it was not associated with a true resident hockey club until another organization, the Anges du Vésinet, faced with the permanent loss of their rink to a fire, moved there in 2002, later changing their name to Anges de Colombes.
The venue hosted the 1978 ice hockey

Coupe de France The Coupe de France (), also known in English language, English as the French Cup or less commonly as the France Cup, is the premier Single-elimination tournament, knockout cup competition in French football organised by the French Football Fed ...

final, and the 1992 French Figure Skating Championships.

Colombes Tennis Club

Colombes Tennis Club offers eleven courts and is managed by the eponymous association. The five indoor courts are made of natural clay, while the six outdoor courts rely on a mix of acrylic ( GreenSet), synthetic clay and natural clay. The facility was completed in 1975.

References

External links

Le parc Pierre-Lagravère – Département of Hauts-de-Seine
(in French)

(in French)

(in French)

(in French) {{DEFAULTSORT:Parc Pierre-Lagravere Sports venues in Hauts-de-Seine Indoor arenas in France Ice hockey venues in France Sports venues completed in 1969 Sports venues completed in 1973 Sports venues completed in 1974 1973 establishments in France Urban public parks