Let me tell you about a dandy in my road warrior rounds in my former living area. This was another fast trip as per many done while living there, and visit just passing briefly, I found me a nice picture in one of my cd rom that prompted doing this post on Châtenay-Malabry. It was a great experience, and always looking forward to be back, eventually Therefore, let me tell you about this is Châtenay-Malabry !!! Hope you enjoy the post as I.
The town of Châtenay-Malabry is located in the Hauts-de-Seine department no 92 in the Île-de-France region of my belle France. The town borders the Department of Essonne 91 and the Department of Yvelines,78, It is 3 km from Sceaux, 24 km from Paris ,and 16 km from Versailles, The town is crossed by the now D 986, my former N 186 ( now avenue de la Division-Leclerc, my avenue de Versailles), and the D 128 (rue Vincent-Fayo and rue Jean-Longuet), the D 67 (avenue Sully-Prudhomme), the D 63 (avenue Roger-Salengro) and the D 75 (on the edge of the town of Plessis-Robinson). It has two exchangers with the A86 highway, which runs along the south of the town on sortie/exit 28 Verrières-le-Buisson / Châtenay-Malabry Center, and sortie/exit 29 Le Plessis-Robinson Center / Châtenay-Malabry Haut.
Created in the 18C, the Arboretum de la Vallée-aux-Loups is a must for nature lovers and plant enthusiasts. Come and wander around its 12,7 hectares of botanical gardens, far from the hustle and bustle of city life, and discover a magnificent collection of nearly 500 species of trees and shrubs. Situated right next door to Chateaubriand’s house, these English-style landscaped gardens are bucolic and romantic in equal measure and a remarkable place for a stroll. Lose yourself in reverie as you take in sights such as the cave, the waterfall, the suspension bridge, the mill and the gazebo. And don’t miss the greenhouse, home to a vast selection of convolvulaceae (climbing and creeping plants or herbaceous vines). The Blue Cedar Weeping Atlas tree planted in 1895 developed its crying port due to a mutation. It covers an area of 680 m² of its branches. There is a cave, a waterfall, two fountains, two hanging bridges, a kiosk, a pier, as well as a small Moorish pavilion which immerses us in different plant universes designed as living paintings.This magical show is renewed according to the seasons ; from the blossom of spring, to the fruits of summer, to the burning red and yellow hues of the autumn leaves. For any visitor looking to commune with nature, it is the gift that keeps on giving.
François-René, Vicomte de Chateaubriand acquired the Valley-aux-Loups, in the Val d’Aulnay ,currently in the town of Châtenay-Malabry, where he shut himself up in a modest retreat. His wife Céleste joins him there, she recounts in her Memories, with humor, the picturesque conditions of the development. The Maison de Chateaubriand and the arboretum de la Vallée aux Loups or the house of Chateaubriand and the arboretum of the valley of the wolves are visited.In the 18C, the knight of the Bignon had an English garden in the bottom of his property, as the fashion of the moment wanted. In 1804, Charles-Louis Cadet de Gassicourt, Napoleon pharmacist, bought the premises and embellished the gardens of rare plants. The estate is then sold to the Marquis de Châteaugirons, which set up the main lines of the current park from 1809 to 1835. In 1890, the nurseryman Gustave Croux acquired the site and enriched it with new botanical species in order to make it the window of his nursery. It is owned by the Hauts-de-Seine Departmental Council since 1986, it has more than 500 species of trees and shrubs, including rare and exotic species, centenary specimens and a greenhouse housing the national rehabilitation collection. It can be visited all year round with main entrance at 102 rue de Chateaubriand ,where the access to the park is free.
The other historical things to see are many but amongst these my favorite would be the Church Saint-Germain-l’Auxerrois, one of the oldest churches in France, whose foundations and part of the Romanesque bell tower date from the 10C. The Colbert pavilion 18C, here Jean -Baptiste Colbert, who acquired in 1670 the lordship of Sceaux as well as land in Châtenay to capture the waters intended to feed the park of Sceaux. Since that time, the arms of the two cities bear the snake of the house of Colbert, the royal terminals of Louis XV along the avenue de la Division-Leclerc (18C). The old City/town hall library, 19C. Many personalities including the writer Paul Léautaud, the philosopher Emmanuel Mounier or the economist André Piettre lived here, also.
A bit of history tell us that the current town territory comes from the delimitations established at the end of the French revolution on the basis of the territory attached to the lordship of Sceaux. Nevertheless, the mention of the name of Châtenay appeared in 829, in the polyptych of the abbot of Sainte-Geneviève, Irminon, mentioned Châtenay with his church. Erected as a parish in the following century, Châtenay, whose lands then belong to the chapter of Notre-Dame de Paris, covers a considerable territory, including all the lands of the current cities of Sceaux and Plessis-Robinson. In the 12C, the city of Plessis became independent and in the 13C, the city of Sceaux also became independent, In 1920, a decree associated the two names of Châtenay and Malabry, the former Châtenay-les-Bagneux ,therefore became Châtenay-Malabry. To note, that Voltaire stayed in town in exile from 1719 (it is also likely that it was born here), back in the paternal house ,Château de la Roseraie, and that Chateaubriand lived there from 1807 to 1816, In its property in La Vallée-aux-Loups, located in the Val d’Aulnay.
The City of Châtenay-Malabry on its heritage : https://www.chatenay-malabry.fr/notre-ville/patrimoine/
The Hauts de Seine dept 92 tourist office on the Arboretum of Châtenay-Malabry: https://destination.hauts-de-seine.fr/domaine-departemental-vallee-aux-loups.html
The Île de France region tourist office on the Arboretum of Châtenay-Malabry : https://www.visitparisregion.com/en/arboretum-de-la-vallee-aux-loups
There you go folks, another dandy town and forest to see, always great memories of always ! . It was a great experience to be back, always wonderful uplifting and with great historical facts I like. Again, hope you have enjoy the post on this is Châtenay-Malabry !!! as I.
And remember, happy travels, good health, and many cheers to all !!!
Paris1972-Versailles2003 