The Grand’Maisons of Villepreux !!!

Posted in France, Versailles

Let me bring you back to my old domaine and tell you about an off the beaten path that is worth the detour for its architecture and history. I am glad found me new pictures in my cd rom vault that should be in my blog for you and especially me, Therefore, let me tell you a bit onthe Grand’Maisons of Villepreux !!! Hope you enjoy the post as I. 

The town of  Villepreux is located in the department of Yvelines no, 78 in the Île-de-France region of my belle France.The town is about 14 km from Versailles, in the plain of Versailles in the extension of the perspective of the gardens of Versailles, as drawn by André Le Nôtre, practically in line with the perspective of the Grand Canal ( an axis which corresponds to the Royal Alley of Villepreux) even if this axis was somewhat forgotten after the French revolution of 1789 and the force moved to Paris of the royal family.  It is 30 km from Paris, 12 km from Saint Germain en Laye, and 453 km from my current home, We went there always by car from our former house in Versailles, taking the road D10 along the Orangerie of the Château de Versailles direction to Saint Cyr L’école (see post), and there take D11 passing Fontenay le Fleury to Villepreux.. However, my twin son has gone there by train several times as girlfriend lives there. The Transilien train of line N passes by Versailles Chantiers station and onwards to Villepreux direction Mantes la Jolie stop at Gare de Villepreux-Les Clayes.

The Château de Villepreux aka Château de Grand’Maisons dates back to the 18C, and is located in the Grand’Maisons estate. Owned by the Bertin de Veaux family and their descendants since the beginning of the 19C, the salons of this literary house were, until November 2016, one of the rare examples of what the great salons of the First Empire and Restoration periods could have been. Eager to preserve their heritage and to share it, they opened the château for visits and accommodation. However, the cost of such a residence is heavy and after the death of Luc Le Gouz de Saint Seine in 2012, the heirs were forced to sell the collections in 2016 despite the concern of the artistic community worried about seeing pieces of heritage disappear.

The Domaine de Grand’Maisons ,which what I am showing you here is an imposing, typically Île-de-France farmhouse built in the 17C in the heart of 300 hectares of green plains. It is the most beautiful former farmhouse of the Royal Estate of Versailles, The Grande Maison is designed for residential seminars during the week and for guests wishing to stay on site on weekends. Modular and versatile reception rooms, allowing you to organize all types of private and professional events: the Salons du Clos Poullain, du Cathéor, and the Salons des Garennes.

The courtyards and gardens are perfect for all your needs: pétanque, cocktails, offbeat entertainment, vehicle displays, etc. The Clos Poullain and Clos Cathéor lounges form a series of rooms overlooking a vast garden, composed as follows: the Clos Poullain lounges (The Veranda + The Hall + The Smoking Room + The Clos Terrace) measuring a total of 245 m². The Clos Cathéor lounges (The Cathedral + The Orangery) measuring a total of 350 m². The Clos Poullain Garden measuring a total of 1200 m². The “Les Garennes” lounge complex is the largest on the estate: it measures 1020 m² in total. It can accommodate up to 800 people for a cocktail reception or 600 people seated. It consists of a large T-shaped room (the Grand Galerie Nord and Sud + Le Carrefour + Le Salon Ouest), a hall overlooking the Jardin des Garennes, and an upstairs lounge, the Mezzanine, overlooking the Cour Francini. The Grande Maison features 15 charming, individually decorated bedrooms, beautiful dining rooms, a cozy lounge, and a large study, all opening onto the adjoining courtyards: the Cour d’Honneur and Cour des Tilleuls.

The official Château des Grand’Maisons on the royal farm : https://www.grandmaisons.com/la-ferme-royale

The town of Villepreux on its heritage : https://www.villepreux.fr/votre-ville/

The Yvelines dept 78 tourist office on the plains of Versailles ,see Villepreux : https://www.destination-yvelines.fr/plaine-de-versailles/

There you go folks, like I said a souvenir spot for us, with great architecture and history as the walls of the farm are the back of the old domaine du Château de Versailles reduce greatly after the French revolution to the grounds you see today.  Worth an off the beaten path detour ,me think. Again, hope you enjoy the post on the Grand’Maisons of Villepreux !!! 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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