Vaucresson brings together architectural history and the Forêt de Fausses-Reposes. Cultural highlights include several villas, the Church of Saint-Denis, a historic walking tour and a municipal cultural centre. This gives you a clear choice when planning your visit: architectural history, cultural activities, or time spent on walking and horse-riding trails.
The history of the buildings can be traced through specific dates and features. Le Corbusier and Pierre Jeanneret began work on Villa Stein in spring 1926 and completed the plans in summer 1927. These two dates mark the beginning and completion of the planning work. The commission and intended use are central to Villa Stein-de-Monzie: Michael and Sarah Stein commissioned it as a villa to share with Gabrielle de Monzie.
Villas and architectural history
Villa Besnus is also associated with a precisely stated period: it is dated to 1922–1923. It was commissioned by the art critic Georges Besnus, also known as Georges Denoinville. One striking architectural detail is the asymmetrical arrangement of its façades. Together with the planning dates for Villa Stein, these details offer different ways to explore Vaucresson's architectural history without reducing both buildings to the same story of their origins.
In a text dated 30 March 2017, several parts of Villa Stein-de-Monzie were classified as a historic monument: the façades and roofs of the former caretaker's lodge, the old entrance gate, the plot with its garden, the façades and roofs of the villa, and the former service staircase. The list therefore covers both parts of the building and the grounds, as well as individual structural features.
An older architectural feature can be found at the Church of Saint-Denis. Dedicated to Saint Denis, it has been altered many times over the centuries. Its Romanesque bell tower, dating from the 12th century, has been preserved. Here, the many later changes stand alongside a specific surviving feature from the Middle Ages.
Cultural stops and local history
A remarkable historical episode takes us back to 19 September 1783. On that day, an animal-carrying hot-air balloon demonstration by the brothers Joseph and Étienne Montgolfier began in Versailles; the balloon subsequently landed in Vaucresson. The connection between the demonstration and the landing makes this episode a distinct chapter in the town's history.
The Vaucresson “Bornes patrimoine” form a historic walking tour with an audio guide and 15 interactive stops. History enthusiasts can explore the town this way, rather than focusing on individual villas or the church bell tower. The Centre culturel La Montgolfière adds to these cultural offerings as a venue for cultural and artistic activities. It hosts events and activities organised by the town, as well as numerous activities run by Vaucresson's associations. As the programme changes, check the current events for a specific visit.
Forêt de Fausses-Reposes and getting there
The Forêt de Fausses-Reposes offers a different focus. It extends across Vaucresson, Marnes-la-Coquette, Ville-d’Avray, Sèvres and Chaville in the Hauts-de-Seine département, as well as La Celle-Saint-Cloud, Le Chesnay, Versailles and Viroflay in the Yvelines département. The forest is criss-crossed by marked walking and horse-riding trails. Trail conditions can vary, so plan your time in the forest according to the activities you have in mind.
To reach the Forêt de Fausses-Reposes, take the Saint-Nom-la-Bretèche line and get off at Vaucresson station. Check current rail services before travelling. This makes it easy to choose Vaucresson based on the topics that genuinely interest you: the villas, church and historic stops offer cultural highlights, while the Forêt de Fausses-Reposes has marked trails for walkers and riders.
Discover more destinations: Malakoff, Colombes, Levallois-Perret, Saint-Cloud, Châtillon, Boulogne-Billancourt, Fontenay-Aux-Roses, Sceaux.
For the regional travel overview: Hauts-De-Seine.
