Ferrières-En-Brie brings together traces of a long local history and the Forêt régionale de Ferrières in the surrounding area. The church, café building and château each tell a different chapter; walking paths and woodland nature offer another focus. During your stay, you can choose between cultural history and time outdoors.
Church, café and château: history in different forms
The Église Saint-Rémy is mentioned in a document dating from the year 1000, issued by Odon de Sully, Bishop of Paris. Several tombstones from the 14th and 15th centuries are still visible in the church. The reference and the tombstones thus point to two widely separated dates: the church’s written mention in the year 1000 and the medieval tombs that can still be seen today.
The Café Saint-Rémy is also associated with an older building. It was housed in a 19th-century coaching inn. At the beginning of the 20th century, the Rothschild family had the building converted into a café with a performance hall upstairs. The façade features four ceramic panels by the ceramic artist A.-J. Arnoux. The building’s former use and façade design give it two distinct historical connections: its conversion into a café and the ceramic works that remain visible today.
Architecture and political history meet at the Château de Ferrières. In 1870, the Salon de l’Entrevue was the setting for a meeting between Bismarck and Jules Favre. The château’s two last historic tapestries are also in this salon. A guided tour offers the chance to learn about the architecture, historic salons and the history of the Rothschild family; tours are available year-round. As visitor arrangements may change, check the current details before your visit.
The château is also home to Le Chai, a bistro-restaurant in the renovated former kitchens at the heart of the 135-hectare park. The restaurant thus connects a specific location in the park with the rooms’ former use. If you plan to visit, it is advisable to check the latest service information.
Forest trails and nature in the Forêt régionale de Ferrières
Ferrières-En-Brie is one of the municipalities in the area around the 3,157-hectare Forêt régionale de Ferrières. The forest is home to, among other species, roe deer, sika deer, wild boar, rabbits and foxes. The sika deer were introduced by the Rothschild family. The Chêne Saint-Jean is another notable landmark: it is considered one of the remarkable trees in the Forêt de Ferrières, and its trunk has a circumference of 4.8 metres.
For a walk with a specified distance, try the Promenade du Cormier, a five-kilometre trail in the Forêt régionale de Ferrières. A Grande-Randonnée trail, which crosses the forest massif from one side to the other, offers a different option. These describe different ways to explore the forest: a walking trail with a stated distance and a route across the massif. When planning an outing, you can therefore choose between a clearly measured walk and a longer forest route.
The Forêt régionale de Ferrières can be reached by public transport via the Roissy-en-Brie RER E station, followed by a five-minute walk, or via the Torcy RER A station and bus line 2290 to the “Fleuriste” stop in Pontcarré. Check current timetables before travelling. This makes it possible to plan your route to the forest without confusing travel information with visits to the historic sites.
Discover more destinations: Vert-Saint-Denis, Champeaux, Germigny-l'Évêque, Le Mée-Sur-Seine, Lognes, Réau, Esbly, Lissy.
For the regional travel overview: Seine-Et-Marne.
