We were on our local road warrior mode a while back in quant Médan . As usual, I passed by it many times and finally got to see its wonders, see my other posts on the town, This is a nice area and historical indeed but still off the beaten path and worth the detour, me think, I found me new pictures in my cd rom vault that should be in my blog for you and me. For reference, the town of Médan is in dept 78 of the Yvelines in the Île de France region of my belle France, Therefore, let me tell you about the Maison Émile Zola of Médan !!! Hope you enjoy the post as I.
The Maison Émile Zola, is at 26, rue Pasteur. Acquired by the writer in May 1878, thanks to the success of “L’Assommoir”, Zola acquired a modest country asylum. it was enlarged on both sides by two raised towers, a square tower on one side in 1879, at the top of which Zola had his work office, a hexagonal tower on the other, In 1885, it was bequeathed on the death of the writer in 1902 to Public Assistance – Paris hospitals, who used it, among other things, as a nursery for convalescent children. After a long period of closure, the house restored reopens to the public in October 2021 This house obtained the label “Maisons des Illustres” or house of the famous , and appears on the “Route des Maisons d’Ecrivains” or road of the writers. The house now includes a museum dedicated to Captain Dreyfus or the Musée Dreyfus in 2019 (not seen yet) ,The space of 300 m2, located in a wing of the Maison Zola, will be composed of a large hall recounting the story of Alfred Dreyfus, a second with videos and archival documents As well as a third space made up of screens allowing the school to work with the existing databases on the subject..Émile Zola takes all its meaning especially because of his involvement in the affair with the publication of his letter j’accuse!, defending Dreyfus ; a captain in the French army accused of espionage for the Germans in WWI while he was Jewish!
After the acquisition of a plot of the Platais Island, where he built the Paradou, a small chalet where he likes to go and have fun, it is a farm, a house for his gardener and a greenhouse that will be added . In 1885, Zola will built a second tower, Germinal, hexagonal this time. He also built to receive his publisher Georges Charpentier and his friends, the carpenter pavilion. Many campaigns will be organized by Zola who likes to surround himself with his friends. The naturalists, Maupassant, Huysmans, Céard, the childhood friend, Paul Alexis but also Cézanne, Manet, Pissaro, Edmond de Goncourt, the Daudet and so many others will hurry to delight the delicious meal concocted by Mme Alexandrine Zola . It will also follow the famous collection of six new naturalists “Les Soirées de Médan” or the evenings of Médan, In 1905, Alexandrine donated this property to the public assistance provided that “all the people who appear to visit the house and to honor the memory of the illustrious writer” could do so. A literary pilgrimage created in 1903 by Maurice Le Blond, future son -in -law of Emile Zola, takes place every year, every first Sunday in October. On this occasion, political and literary personalities come to speak of the work and life of Emile Zola.
Some basic information that always needs to be check for updates, The house tour is led by a guide. The combined tour of Zola’s house and the Dreyfus Museum is by reservation only. Without reservation, visit to the Dreyfus Museum only. You can get here from the A13 or A14 autoroutes, exit/sortie 7, towards Villennes sur Seine, then Médan. By train from the Gare Saint-Lazare in Paris on line J towards Mantes-la-Jolie via Poissy, get off at Villennes-sur-Seine. From the Place Verte bus 43 towards Les Mureaux to the Château stop in Médan).By RER A train to the Poissy train station then bus 43. In ,latter two walking is 20 minutes French Line 43 line from Poissy to Les Mureaux.
The official Maison Zola, Musée Dreyfus on Zola : https://www.maisonzola-museedreyfus.com/maison-zola-musee-dreyfus/
The local Terre de Seine tourist office on the Maison Zola/Musée Dreyfus : https://www.terres-de-seine.fr/decouvrir/patrimoine/maison-zola-musee-dreyfuss/
The town of Médan on its heritage : https://villemedan.fr/le-patrimoine-medanais-2/
There you go folks, this is quant pretty Médan, a nice ride in the west of Paris. The castle and house-museum Zola/Dreyfus is a must to see for the history of France, Europe and the literary world we still see today, I am looking forward to see the house again and the museum, eventually, This is a wonderful nice town, that is worth the detour , me think, Again, hope you enjoy the post on the Maison Émile Zola of Médan !!! as I.
And remember, happy travels, good health, and many cheers to all !!!
Paris1972-Versailles2003 