The Villa Beau Chêne of Le Vésinet !!!

Posted in Europe, France

Again looking at my travel ,history books in my library I came upon this time a jewel of a historical mansion that was near my former home. I am glad to have found couple pictures in my cd rom vault that should be in my blog for you and me. The Le Vésinet is in my former Yvelines dept 78 of the Île de France region of my belle France.Therefore, let me tell you about the Villa Beau Chêne of Le Vésinet !!! Hope you enjoy the story as I.

Josephine Baker, the great music hall artist of the 1920s, lived at the Villa Beau Chêne, an immense late 19C mansion surrounded by a splendid English-style park, which the current owners have left almost untouched. This great dancer and also great altruist was indeed very involved in helping children and refugees. She regularly visited the former orphanage, now Maison Saint-Charles, and ran a refugee support center at the Gare du Nord train station during WWII

She lived for 18 years in this mansion, constructed for a baroness in 1880, the Villa Beau Chêne.at 52 avenue Georges Clemenceau ,formely Centrale, She resided there from 1929 to 1947 and kept a whole menagerie: chickens, sheep, monkeys, and even her cheetah, Chiquita. In the park, the cage that was used to punish her when she devoured the chickens in the farmyard still stands. And on weekends, the park was the setting for grand parties where all of Paris turned out .Villa Beau Chêne was built between 1890 and 1891. Josephine Baker lived there from 1927 to 1947.

The first owner listed in the land registry of 1893) for the property we will call Beau-Chêne Josephine Baker,(see post) lived, as she had always wished to live, close to the land, and therein lies the secret of her personality. She was simple and multifaceted, like the earth that playfully yields flowers and fruit. Her villa, where she lived was also a popular venue for entertaining. It subsequently belonged to various private owners.The interior is not open to the public. Guided tours of this magnificent house are organized during the European Heritage Days

It was in Le Vésinet that Captain Jacques Abtey contacted her in 1940, asking her to join the Resistance as an intelligence agent. First in 1940, then in North Africa in 1941, and in Italy with the French Expeditionary Corps in 1943. She returned to Le Vésinet in October 1944, to Beau-Chêne. During Josephine’s absence, from 1940 to 1944, the deserted villa was occupied by the Nazi army. The Kriegsmarine used it as an officers’ mess and returned it almost empty upon its departure in August 1944. In 1945, it hosted a sumptuous reception in honor of the Pasha of Marrakech, Thami El Mezouari El Glaoui, who was on an official visit to Paris; this would be the last reception held at Beau-Chêne. On June 3, 1947 (her 41st birthday), she planned to sell the villa. The proceeds would be used to organize a major tour of Latin America, which would then provide the resources to acquire the Château des Milandes.(see post)

The 800 m² mansion and its grounds, with its twelve bedrooms, four bathrooms, two living rooms, caretaker’s cottage, and 1.4 hectares of 180-degree gardens, A villa designed on two floors. Since its construction in 1891, the house has undergone numerous renovations, always respecting the memory of the activist and the original materials. Last I read, the house is for sale as of August 2025 for 19 million Euros. Currently about 22,5 millions USDollars,

The local Seine Saint Germain tourist office on the Villa Josephine Baker : https://www.seine-saintgermain.fr/offres/villa-josephine-baker-le-vesinet-fr-5357195/

The Yvelines dept 78 tourist office on the Villa Josephine Baker : https://www.destination-yvelines.fr/visites-et-decouvertes/somptueuse-villa-longtemps-habitee-par-une-celebre-artiste-de-music-hall/

The town of Le Vésinet on its history : https://villeduvesinet.fr/la-ville/le-vesinet-ville-parc/histoire-de-la-ville/

The Artea Immobilier (real estate) site on the Villa Beau Chêne of Le Vésinet: https://www.artea-immobilier.com/en/reference/la-villa-beau-chene/

There you go folks, a nice chic town with nice history and beautiful architecture all over, worth the detour. Le Vésinet is one to know, and glad found me this jewel of a mansion to be in my blog. Again, hope you enjoy the post on the Villa Beau Chêne of Le Vésinet !!! 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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