Vauciennes offers opportunities for a trip combining architectural history, garden art and the wider natural landscape of the Forêt de Retz. The churches reflect different building phases; manor house architecture and landscaped gardens can also be found in the surrounding area. When planning, it is worth distinguishing the locations: not every destination is right in Vauciennes.
Churches from the Middle Ages and the Gothic period
The Église Saint-Léger was built largely from the late 12th century and completed in the 1230s or 1240s. Its façade is characterised by a deep Gothic porch, a finely moulded portal and a large rose window with diamond-point decoration. The construction period and the details go hand in hand here: the church’s construction began early and was completed several decades later, while the portal and rose window showcase the façade’s careful design.
The Église Sainte-Geneviève offers a different architectural perspective. Its oldest section is a single-nave church dating from the last quarter of the 12th century. Visitors enter through a porch added later and a carefully crafted round-arched portal. The seigneurial chapel opens onto the choir through a door and another opening; its vault has eight ribs radiating from a heraldic keystone. Its setting is also distinctive: the church is located in a clearing in the Forêt de Retz.
Manor Houses and Heritage Protection
The Manoir du Plessis-au-Bois is located near Vauciennes. The estate includes an old residential building, a keep, a Renaissance wing and walled gardens. Historically, it belonged to Philippe d’Orléans, the brother of Louis XIV, and later to the regent. The Manoir has been listed as a historic monument since 1999. Its architecture, history of ownership and gardens offer different points of reference for understanding the site.
The Manoir du Plessis-aux-Bois has its own heritage protection designation. This covers the manor house, including the entrance pavilion, the enclosure walls and the dovecote. The names of the two manors differ only slightly, so when planning, take care to check the exact name and whether you mean the building complex or the gardens of the Manoir du Plessis-au-Bois.
The Gardens of the Manoir du Plessis-au-Bois
The Jardins du Manoir du Plessis-au-Bois have been developed continuously since 2003. Their design reinterprets the atmosphere of the late Middle Ages and early Renaissance and is divided into seven green spaces. Details include berry shrubs bordered by beech hedges and a boxwood bosquet. A fishpond is surrounded by irises and wisteria; nearby are a flower-filled vegetable garden with grapevines, as well as espalier-trained apple and pear trees. A water channel, climbing roses and a boulingrin complete this varied garden.
Self-guided and guided visits are available for individuals and groups; visits can be arranged by appointment throughout the year. Before travelling, check whether your preferred visit date is available. This makes it easier to coordinate a garden visit with the other highlights of your trip without assuming that a spontaneous visit will be possible.
The Forêt de Retz and Getting Around
In the wider region around Vauciennes, the Forêt de Retz offers 60 kilometres of forest roads and 560 kilometres of forest tracks and woodland paths. There are twelve signposted themed routes for walks and hikes. These are complemented by the Parcours des Cotrets, designed and created by the O.N.F., and the long-distance hiking trails GR 11 and GR 11A. These routes form part of the larger forest area and should not be mistaken for a trail network belonging exclusively to Vauciennes.
The Forêt de Retz also includes the eight-hectare Champ Familier enclave in the commune of Vauciennes. Another route through the region is the Nationale 2, which passes through Vauciennes. It was once a strategic road towards Flanders and is now a transport route between Paris and Belgium.
For a garden visit, it is advisable to confirm the date in advance.
Discover more destinations: Breuil-le-Vert, Crèvecœur-Le-Grand, Maulers, Mortemer, Saint-Jean-Aux-Bois, Cuvilly, Saint-Sulpice, Remy
For the broader travel overview: Oise.
