Juilly can be explored through two distinct themes: the architectural history of the former Oratorian college and the Church of Saint-Étienne, and an 11.5 km walking route along waterways. For travel planning, these are clearly different focuses: heritage in the town and a named outdoor route. If you would like to visit the park of the former college, check access in advance; arrangements may change during redevelopment.
The former college: several building phases
The former Oratorian college in Juilly was founded by the Oratorians in 1638 and was built largely in the 18th century. Four open courtyards organize the complex; their layout recalls monastic building plans of the 17th and 18th centuries. Some 18th-century staircases and wood panelling have been preserved. The complex thus brings together an older layout and tangible traces of later building phases.
The individual buildings also reflect this history: the chapel was rebuilt in the second half of the 19th century. Henry Faucheur built the library out of concrete in the early 20th century. The park of the former college includes notable gardens; they have been included in the preliminary inventory of the general French heritage inventory since 31 July 2003. Part of the complex has been listed as a historic monument since 6 May 2021. The Sainte-Geneviève fountain is fully included in the protected complex.
Another historical detail is the funerary monument to Cardinal de Bérulle’s right arm in the college. The funerary monument to Cardinal de Bérulle contains the cardinal’s hand and right arm. Together with the courtyards, preserved woodwork and later buildings, this object shows the range of historical associations within the complex.
Saint-Étienne: structure and church art
The Church of Saint-Étienne tells a different architectural story. It was rebuilt in the 19th century by the architect Louis Auguste Boileau. Its iron structure consists of pillars, capitals and ribs resting on stone and cement bases and floors. Alongside its 19th-century building phase, the materials and construction are also central to its story.
The church contains several precisely described works of art. The Stations of the Cross is made of carved, polychrome-painted oak and decorated with bas-reliefs. The statue Notre-Dame des moissons is a directly carved polychrome wooden sculpture. The polychrome statue Christ on the Cross stands on a flat cross with a polygonal base and is located on the high altar. The architecture and artworks thus offer different subjects for exploring Saint-Étienne.
Planning a walk and your journey
If you would like to plan an outdoor route in addition to visiting the buildings, there is a walking route that begins in Juilly and follows the Beuvronne and the Ru de la Maquerelle. The route, described in the 2023 tourist guide, is 11.5 km long. Check the current waymarking on site. The stated distance gives you a concrete figure for planning; the route offers a different focus from the architectural and art-related themes in town.
For connections to the airport, Filéo is relevant: the service connects Roissypole station at CDG 1 airport with Juilly Mairie de Juilly. Filéo is available around the clock, seven days a week, for access to the airport area. Check the current operating conditions before travelling so your arrival plans match the information available at the time.
Archives and appointments
The history of the Sœurs de Saint-Louis is also connected with Juilly. The congregation was founded there in the Diocese of Meaux in 1842 by Abbé Louis Bautain. The archive collection of the Sœurs de Saint-Louis in Juilly includes works about Bautain, the Dames de Saint-Louis and Juilly. This offers a distinct way to explore local history: alongside the college and the church, it focuses on a congregation and the subjects covered in its surviving works.
The archive guide, updated in 2016, states that consultation and access to records are available by appointment. If you plan to travel for this purpose, confirm the appointment arrangements again in advance. This lets you plan an archive visit as a distinct focus and distinguish it from the architectural themes and the walking route.
Discover more destinations: Mauregard, Neufmoutiers-En-Brie, Rubelles, Les Chapelles-Bourbon, Montceaux-Lès-Provins, Bussy-Saint-Georges, Melun, Nemours.
For the broader travel overview: Seine-Et-Marne.
