A part of the Val-de-Marne department, located in the south-east of Paris, Orly is a growing town with a mixture of historic and modern features. Starting as a small village in the district of Notre-Dame, it witnessed rapid growth and urbanization in the early 20th century, intensified by the construction of the Aéroport de Paris-Orly. Today, a balance is struck between continuing the town’s development and preserving the green spaces which can be found in many of the neighbourhoods.
Kyriad Orly-Aéroport Athis Mons is well placed for anyone wanting to explore Orly or the wider area. Val-de-Marneis well known for its river tourism, boasting access to both the Seine and the Marne. Surrounded by the towns of Thiais, Villeneuve-le-Roi and Choisy-le-Roi and with easy access to Paris, there are plenty of places to see and things to do for anyone choosing Orly as their holiday destination.
A two-night break:
If you’re spending a weekend at the Kyriad Orly-Aéroport Athis Mons then take the time to visit the Saint Germain Church, dating back to the 1300s, and see if you can spot the skulls carved into its walls. Stop by at the Town Hall, an estate that formerly housed the famous cartoonist Emile Cohl. Have a look at the monument dedicated to the film pioneer Georges Melies before taking a stroll in the Georges Melies Park.
A week-long stay:
Staying for longer ? Why not take a look at the tomb of avant-garde artist Armand Guillauminor watch a film at the Aragon-Triole Cultural Centre – the cinema shows both art-house and mainstream films. Why not take advantage of being so close to Paris-Orly Airport and rent a bike? Alternatively, central Paris is less than an hour away by car, so a day-trip is easy to arrange and would let you see the more famous sights such as the Eiffel Tower, l’Arc du Triomphe or the Louvre.
A family holiday:
For some Orly family fun, try your hand at a theatre workshop at the Aragon-Triole Cultural Centre. The Grande Godet Park in the neighbouring town of Villeneuve-le-Roi provides plenty of space for children to run around and play a host of sports, including football, tennis or volleyball. And of course, a family break wouldn’t be complete without a trip to Disneyland Paris.
Transport:
Getting to Orly is very easy as it has its own airport, Aéroport de Paris-Orly and the Kyriad Orly-Aéroport Athis Mons is only a short drive away from the terminal. The town has three train stations running on the RER C line network which serves theIle-de-Franceregion and bikes can be hired from the airport.
Gastronomy:
There are a number of food options available, ranging from fast food outlets or Italian pizzerias to more exotic cuisines like Turkish or Asian. If you want to eat like the locals, head to a guingette – an open-air riverside restaurant with live music. The Guingette Auvergnate is at the edge of Orly, opposite the Villeneuve Triage train station.
Events:
Each year, the towns of Val-de-Marne are brought together by a musical extravaganza – la Festi Val de Marne. A variety of artists play at venues across the area, including Orly’s Aragon-Triole Cultural Centre. Visitors have the chance to explore Orly as well as the wider region and of course Kyriad Hotels offer hospitality wherever you go.
Interesting fact:
Orly is twinned with four towns: Pointe a Pitre in Guadeloupe since 1973; Kline in Russia since 1979; Campi Bisenzio in Italy since 1980 andTurnu-Severin in Romania since 2000. “Twinning” is a way of improving relations between countries and provides avenues for trade and increased tourism.
Useful links:
http://www.bikerentalfrance.com
http://www.festivaldemarne.org
http://www.tourisme-valdemarne.com
http://www.guinguette-auvergnate.fr/
http://www.mairie-orly.fr
