Curiosities of Maisons Laffitte, part II !!!

Posted in Europe, France, Versailles

I have done several posts on the streets of towns and cities and we love to walk once in town/city let me tell you about another dear and near for many years. No need to repeat me think but just to show you Maisons-Laffitte is in the Yvelines department 78 in the Île-de-France region of my belle France, located approximately 10 km from Saint-Germain-en-Laye , 21 km from Versailles, and approximately 18 km from Paris. The town borders the towns of Saint-Germain-en-Laye as well as around 800 meters from the border of Achères , and Le Mesnil-le-Roi. It is separated by the Seine river from Sartrouville and Cormeilles-en-Parisis. Therefore, let me tell you a bit on curiosities of Maisons Laffitte ,part II !!! Hope you enjoy the post as I.

In the heart of the Maisons-Laffitte park stands a facade that seems to be out of another time. The Maison Doulton house,located at 30 Avenue Pascal is its finely sculpted terracotta ornaments, is a vestige of a major historical event: the Universal Exhibition of 1878. This is not a house like the others: its facade has been specially designed for the Universal Exhibition of Paris in 1878. It served as a pavilion to represent England and highlight the excellence of the Doulton & Lampeth factory, specialized in terracotta. Covered with terracotta -sculpted elements, it testifies to the refinement and creativity of the Victorian era. With its large ogival berries and its inspired look of medieval Gothic, the facade of the Doulton house is fully part of the picturesque style of “Gothic revival”. Its terracotta coating and its skillfully worked polychromy illustrate all the know-how of the English manufacturer, transforming this home into a real work of architectural art. It cannot be visited ; you have to be content to admire it from the outside, walking in the Parc de Maisons-Laffitte.

In 150 years, the park, a resort, has welcomed many celebrities like Franck Jay-Gould, Aga Khan, Jacques Fath, Jean Cocteau, etc, Their old properties constitute today, for visitors, interesting places of memory. As above, A bit of history of the ASP park assoc tell us that on June 11, 1869, the owners created the Union Association of the Parc de Maisons-Laffitte (ASP), owner of the avenues, squares, squares, pools and wooded reserves of the park for a period of 99 years. At the end of this period, the ASP is extended for an unlimited period , A new update is imposed by the order of July 2, 2004 and its application decree of May 3, 2006, Consequently, all owners of real estate located within the ASP domain are automatically members of the association. The ASP is an association of more than 3,200 partners, owners of individual houses and apartments, stables and equestrian centers, public and private collective establishments. It manages the park, an area of ​​420 ha including 148 ha are its property (36 ha of built reserves and properties, 84 ha of avenues and squares, 27 ha of land rented in France Galop and at the Park of Sports.

The château de Maisons Laffitte (see post) was built by François Mansart, uncle of Jules Hardouin-Mansart who will built Versailles a few years later… This new building takes the place of the previous buildings built by the two lineages of house Lords. The castle will be great, to receive the king during the hunts in the forest of Saint-Germain. It is for this reason that the entrance to the monument is back to the Seine, preceded by a wide avenue coming from the forest. Construction started around 1642, ending at 1650. king Louis XIV lodged there in 1671 on the day of the death of Philippe François de France, duke d’Anjou. The first alleys of the park, the Avenues Albine and Aegle, are contemporary of the castle. The other aisles will be created during the 18C. Starting with the king, to please Madame de Pompadour in 1747, then to Madame du Barry in 1770 to sell the castle. But king Louis XV did not let himself be engaged in these operations and end up selling Maisons in 1777 to the Count of Artois, brother of king Louis XVI and future king Charles X, who complemented the embellishments. The French revolution finally put an end to this story. 

The cheval Ptolémée or Ptolemy horse is a monumental bronze and stainless steel sculpture, located on Place du Maréchal Juin, was donated to the town of Maisons-Laffitte by Dr. Jean-Charles Hachet. The sculpture was installed on the square on August 4, 2021. Located in front of the library, it perfectly illustrates the transmission of knowledge and the love of books, and horse, the City is much attach. Its name was chosen in reference to the Greek Ptolemy dynasty, which ruled Egypt after the death of Alexander, and founded the Library of Alexandria. The horse’s body is laden with works of literature, and the statue was installed next to the library. The statue is 3 meters high and 4.5 meters wide, was initially to be installed in front of the entrance to the racecourse.

The city of Maisons Laffitte on its heritage:  https://www.maisonslaffitte.fr/Histoire-et-patrimoine/10038/

The official Château Maisons Laffitte: https://www.chateau-maisons.fr/en

The Maisons Laffitte tourist office on the park :  https://www.tourisme-maisonslaffitte.fr/adresse/le-parc/

The Assoc park of Maisons Laffitte see above left by the porte du nord for the Maison Doulton : https://parcmaisonslaffitte.org/le-parc-de-maisons-lafitte/

There you go folks, a pleasant walking tour of a very nice town of my former Yvelines 78, nice castle known racecourse, and beautiful architecture and history in many more houses. Again, hope you enjoy this post on curiosities of Maisons Laffitte, part II as I.

And remember, happy travels, good health, and many cheers to all !!!

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Published by pedmar10

I am a lover of travels to Europe , Americas , Africa and Asia as well ,who like to share my experiences of the last 53 years with the world, visiting so far 81 countries; living in 6, working in 5, and Citizen of 4, speaking fluently 4 languages. I can deal with sports especially football/soccer and love music, arts, wine collector/drinker, and go out to restaurants, and just visit the world. My background comes all the way from Candelaria and Pajara in Tenerife, Spain where my grandparents came from ;not knowing each other then, to Punta Brava, west of Havana, Cuba. There , my parents born in Cuba met and later on I was born there too. 100% guanche (annexed Tenerife to Spain on April 10 ,1496). I left Cuba as many have to Madrid, Spain where I lived for 4 years. Then, move to Perth Amboy ,New Jersey USA (living there 13 yrs) ; where I completed high school, became a US Citizen, learned to drive a car, and learned English. Afterward, went to the university in Florida, ERAU, and upon graduation decided to moved there to Ormond by the Sea, near Daytona Beach, finally moving North Miami, then Hialeah, then another moved to Silver Lakes division in Miramar, Broward county, Florida; in Florida I lived a total of 18 years. Finally , moved to France in 2003 ,Versailles call me for its royalty, and working in Paris was great. It was time to seek frontiers again and moved to Brech near Auray, Morbihan in Brittany , and later move to not too far Pluvigner. Total so far in France has been 20 years, and counting. Moving average a home every 5.5 years hopefully this will be my last. Cheers All rights reserved. No part of this blog may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means or stored in a retrieval system of any nature, without the written permission of the copyright holder, me. No part of this work may be modified, without the written permission of the holder, me.No part of this work may be exposed to public view in any form or by any means, without identifying the holder as the author, and with the before mentioned permission.

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