IJCLab is located on the Université d’Orsay Paris-Sud Campus, 25 kilometers south-west of Paris.
Common transports
The easiest way to reach the Orsay campus is by taking the RER B line to the Orsay-Ville station, preferably getting off at the head of the train (35 minutes from Châtelet). Pay attention that the southbound RER B has 2 distinct branches: take a train heading to Saint-Remy-lès-Chevreuse to reach the Orsay-Ville station (1 train every 15 minutes).
If you already came to Paris, please note that the common transportation pricing changed January 1st, 2025. The new pricing is supposed to be simpler (and cheaper!) with basically 3 main options:
- Ticket for travelling by bus and tram: 2€, valid 1h30
- Ticket for travelling by metro, RER or train (including Orsay), except the airports: 2.5 €, valid 2 hours
- Tickets to/from airports (whatever line is used, including Orlyval): 13€, valid 2 hours
The easiest option to buy these tickets is to download the application Bonjour RATP (or the application IDF Mobilités). Then you can buy tickets from the application and use your phone for validation at the entrance of the stations.
There is also a special ticket called Paris Visite allowing you to visit many touristic places in the Paris region. It is probably not worth the price for the days you'll be attending the workshop but may be of interest if you stay in Paris before or after the workshop.
Please do not mix up the RER B station « Orsay-Ville » with the Paris metro station « Musée d’Orsay ».
You will find maps, time tables, pricing, etc., about metro and RER here.
From Charles de Gaulle airport
RER station is located at « Roissypole », linked by CDGVAL light rail:
- From Terminal 1: The RER station is not located inside Terminal 1. Take the CDGVAL light rail (5 minutes journey) to « Terminal 3-Roissypole ». CDGVAL station for Terminal 1 is located at level 2;
- From Terminal 2: RER station is underneath Terminal 2, between Terminal 2C/2E and 2D/2F. Go to the rail station by walk (look for « Paris by train » or « Gare » signs) or board free shuttles;
- From Terminal 3: The RER station is not located inside Terminal 3. Look for « Paris by train » signs (follow the signposted footpaths). RER station is 400 meters away from the terminal (5 minutes journey by walk) .
At the RER station, take the RER B going to Saint-Rémy-lès-Chevreuse (and not to Robinson), getting off at Orsay-Ville.
From Orly airport
Take the Orlyval (Automatic rail link connecting to RER line B) to the Antony station and then transfer to the RER B going to Saint-Rémy-lès-Chevreuse (and not to Robinson) and get off at Orsay-Ville.
From train stations in Paris
The main train stations (Gare du Nord, Gare de l’Est and Gare de Lyon are connected to the Metro/RER system going to Orsay-Ville. When coming from Geneva, it is recommended to take the TGV to Paris Gare de Lyon and then travel by common transportation to IJCLab (~1 hour).
From the RER B station Orsay-Ville to IJCLab building 200:
Preferably, take the exit at the head of the platform/train (when coming from Paris). Once out of the station, go down until you reach the bottom of the street, then turn left and continue on the main road until you reach building 200 (on your left). It is approximately 7 minutes from the station.
By road from Paris
If you leave Paris from « Porte d’Italie » or « Porte d’Orléans », take the A6 autoroute in the direction of Lyon ; on the autoroute, after 10 km, follow in the direction of « Bordeaux » ; after another 10km, take the Orsay exit and follow panels to reach Orsay and « Faculté d’Orsay ». After this, look up in a local map to find "IJCLab Bat 200".
If you leave Paris from « Pont de Sèvres », take the N118 in the direction of « Bordeaux », after 30 km, exit at Orsay. Then, follow « Faculté d’Orsay » or find the RER-B train station « Orsay-Ville ». After this, look up in a local map to find "IJCLab Bat 200".
In principle, going to Orsay from Paris in the morning is « against the flow » and not subject to big traffic jams. Allow typically for 45 minutes.
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