Paris1972-Versailles2003

I am , again reviving old glories of my belle France I used to lived not far from here, and came often , the shopping and the church are really nice, and the local liquor fantastic. It is very easy from Paris too, can be done in half a day tour. I am talking about Poissy, in department 78 Yvelines, region of Île de France. I will change this post with one picture found in my cd rom vault and another from other posts to have them both here for you and me. Anyway ,this is a nice off the beaten path city that should be visited more, me think. Therefore, let me tell you on curiosities of Poissy, part I !!! Hope you enjoy as I

The town of Poissy is only about 30 km from Paris and 8 km from Saint Germain en Laye as well as 23 km from Versailles, the capital of the department  (78) Yvelines. It is on the left bank of the Seine river in a stream of water limited by the forest of Saint Germain en Laye on the east and the Seine river on the west Beautiful territory for walks, bikes you name it. One wonderful street which we entered Poissy for many years was the rue de la Tournelle with a long historic wall, almost 300 years old, which borders the road D30 and for a part the cemetery, The wall has some part falling and was redone for more than 320 meters connecting the districts of the Maladrerie and the hospital to the city center, which also allows you to join the D 30 towards Plaisir ,This street starts by the musée des Jouets (see post) road D30 to the Rue de Beauregard, Alongside runs the Cimetière la Tournelle opened in 1827 on a vast plot of land overlooking the City, I have taken this street several times off the N13 to reach the Collegiate Church Notre Dame (see post), The picture shows the beginning of the toys museum and the church ahead.

Some of the things  to see in Poissy most with individual posts in my blog are: One of the great liquors of France is here too, La Distillerie du Noyau de Poissy 105, rue du Gal-de-Gaulle , and one of the oldest too since 1698, the secret blend is not known but its delicious! You can wondered along Parc Meissonier and see the still  wonderful  Chateau de Villiers, gorgeous gardens and forest and great architecture.  Ernest Meissonier, lived on this avenue and is nice to walk in front of his house in this small paved street with a medieval atmosphere.See it at 13 avenue du Bon Roi Saint Louis. Next you come to the rare combination of a Hotel de Ville or city hall govt building and theater in same building.  Built in 1935,the new Hôtel de Ville on the place à l’Herbe The  décoration at the front is by Ossip Zadkine, the fresco in the hallway is by Brenson and the decoration  in the salle de Conseil (councelors room).  The theater next door was built in 1937 as the salle Moliére.

 Claude Monet lived in Poissy from 1881 to 1883, before leaving for Vetheuil. The renowned architect Le Corbusier (Charles Edouard Jeanneret) produced for the Savoye couple in 1928 the Villa Savoye, The villa  Savoye also known as “Heures Claires” or clear hours was built between  1928 to 1931 over a terrain of 7 hectares ,and it was the end of the cycle of white houses of architect Le Corbusier. See it at 82, rue de Villiers. Also, at Place des Capucins see his bronze sculpture of Le Corbusier inaugurated on December 24, 2019. The old Pont de Poissy whose construction dates back to the 12C, and was destroyed by an English bombardment in 1944. This 410 -meter long bridge which counted 24 arches, there are three stone arches remaining. By rue du Général de Gaulle, in front of the Noyau distillery and finally at the grant pavilion built in 1830, the City/town hall (former Capuchin convent dating from 1620) it will be transformed into a school town hall was rebuilt on December 1936. It has the particularity of having attach a theater hall.  

The city of Poissy ,is a royal town of France since the 5C, but ,also saintly. It was here that amongst other things Louis IX was born ,he who later became Saint Louis. He was baptised in the Collegiale Church Notre Dame, rebuilt between 1130 and 1160, in the late Romanesque style, then later in the primitive Gothic style. It still has the baptismal basin where he was baptised on April 25 1214. (see post) and Philippe III le Hardi were born and baptised. Louis IX became, the only king saint of France. See it at 8 rue de l’Eglise, Inside you can see statues of him and his daughter Isabelle of France from 1300.

We move just across the street to the covered  market or Halle du Marché ,a wonderful building of goodies inside from veggies to fruits to beef, fish, seafood, and poultry ,outside you have a flea market type with all kinds of goods; easily walkable from the train station for an afternoon or day in wonderful Poissy. Built between 1825-1832, to house the cattles, especially those weaklings from the weather and heat . It was enlarged in 1852, with the help of metal structures just after those at the Halles of Paris by  Baltard. Now after a full restoration it welcomes the market 3 times per week on Tuesdays, Fridays, and Sundays mornings. Another wonderful institution here that my kids enjoyed when younger is the museum of toys or Musée du Jouet,1 enclos de l’Abbaye , housed in an old abbey, and 3 floors of wonderful toys of yesterday and today still going strong.The Porterie du Prieuré is the only preserved building of the Dominican abbey. This priory founded by King Philippe-le-Bel in honor of his grandfather (Saint-Louis) in the 13C was destroyed at the end of the 18C. The porterie now houses the toy museum.      A wonderful world for any child or the child in us ::)

The town is very easy to get from Paris on the RER A at several locations, and the SNCF trains from gare Saint Lazare. Also, the road A13 autoroute de normandie takes you to exit 7 and Poissy very easily. Plenty of parking by pl de la Republique and the gare RER we had to have a drink or two, at L’Instant 24 Avenue du Cep as the gang was waiting for the meal of the day, but I stopped in one of my all time favorites when used to come a lot to the city on business meetings, and on weekends with the family just to get out of the hundrum of daily life

The City of Poissy on its heritage : https://www.ville-poissy.fr/index.php/sport-culture/vie-culturelle/patrimoine.html

The local Terres de Seine tourist office on Poissy: https://www.terres-de-seine.fr/idees-week-ends/bon-plan-week-end/journee-decouvrir-poissy/

The Yvelines Dept 78 tourist office on Poissy: https://www.destination-yvelines.fr/visites-et-decouvertes/?_commune=poissy

There you go folks, another dandy in my former Yvelines, and Poissy is worth the detour indeed. Again, hope you enjoy this post on curiosities of Poissy , part I as I.  And remember, happy travels, good health, and many cheers to all !!!