Gif-sur-Yvette is a commune in south-western Ile de France, France. It is located 22.9 km (14.2 mi) from the center of Paris.

Sights

Environmental heritage

The territory of Gif-sur-Yvette benefits from a relatively preserved and enhanced natural setting with nearly 20%, or nearly two hundred and thirty hectares of the area covered by wooded areas distributed between the woods of the Hacquinère, ‘Aigrefoin, Coudraies and Fèvrie.

Fourteen kilometers of cycle path and forty kilometers of pedestrian paths crisscross the town, six marked walks have been set up in the town to cover the  green spaces , to which is added the route of the GR 655 path , corresponding to the current pilgrimage path from Saint-Jacques-de-Compostelle which crosses the town following the Yvette valley and the Pays du Hurepoix hiking trail , which connects the Bièvre valley to that of Essonne , via the Yvette , Barley , and Juine .

The Coupières basin, the town hall park and the Belvédère complete the range of green spaces. Gif-sur-Yvette has been part of the Haute Vallée de Chevreuse regional natural park since the November 5, 2011.

The municipal woods and the Coupières and Grignon basins have been classified by the department as sensitive natural areas , granting the municipality a pre-emptive zone.

The park of the Château de Button, property of the CNRS is equipped with greenhouses for biological research and has benefited from the classification of refuge for bird species since 1991.

Architectural heritage 

The architectural heritage of Gif-sur-Yvette consists of various buildings:

• the church of Saint-Remi , the most remarkable, was built in the xii ^th  century in Romanesque style and rebuilt in the xv ^th  century in a Gothic style , inscribed with historical monuments from the December 21 , 1938;
• the ancient abbey of Val-de-Gif: There are still buildings of the former abbey of Val-de-Gif founded by the Benedictines in the xii ^th  century, the farm and mill;
• the old Hermitage castle: The town hall currently occupies the old Hermitage castle , Empire style;
• Castle Button: the National Center for Scientific Research holds the castle of Button, the xviii ^th  century, built by the architect of Louis XV , Pierre Desmaisons Claude Merault, Vicomte de Gif and Châteaufort in a classic style . Commissioned in 1754 , the castle was not completed until 1777 , in a park inspired by the works of André Le Nôtre by Pillet. 
• the castle of Val Fleuri (private);
• the washhouses of Courcelle built in 1876 and Gibeciaux in 1805 complete this heritage.

Cultural facilities 

The town of Gif-sur-Yvette has various places of practice and access to culture . In addition to the municipal library spread over the Courcelle, Center, Abbey and Chevry sites, it has set up a toy library in the Espace du Val de Gif and helps finance a Le Central cinema and of the Cyrano Youth and Culture Center. Several multipurpose rooms are spread over the territory, the Terrace for shows, the café-concertfrom the Maison du Mail in Chevry, the multipurpose room of Val de Gif and the castle of Belleville which serves as a conference and exhibition room. In partnership with associations, it has set up the UniverCité Ouverte, a free-time university that organizes cultural popularization conferences. In addition, there are the research Thursday conferences organized by the staff of scientific establishments present on the municipal territory. A school of arts and music for all allows the learning of artistic activities.