In Chambourcy, garden art and art history meet the preservation of old fruit varieties and a walk along the RĂ» de Buzot. When planning your trip, it is important to distinguish between seasonal visiting hours and the stories behind the buildings: Le DĂ©sert de Retz is open on weekends from April to October, while Sainte Clotilde has different hours depending on the time of year. You can therefore start by choosing the visits that will determine the dates of your stay.
Le DĂ©sert de Retz: Garden Art and Distinctive Structures
Le DĂ©sert de Retz is an Anglo-Chinese garden laid out between 1774 and 1789. Today, it covers 17 hectares and still has seven named structures. These include the ruined Colonne, the Tatar Tent, and the ruined Gothic church, as well as the Temple of Pan, the Small Altar, which has almost completely fallen into ruin, the open-air theatre, and the Ice Pyramid. The structures differ significantly in their form and condition; their individual names provide clear points of reference in the garden.
Visits are possible every Saturday and Sunday from 2 to 6 p.m. from April to October; last admission is at 4:30 p.m. If you plan to visit the garden, check the schedule in advance and arrange your visit day around this seasonal time slot.
Artist’s Studio and Church Building History
The Maison André Derain is a studio house built in the late 17th or early 18th century. André Derain set up several studios there, including one on the first floor. After the work was completed, the house was inaugurated on October 12, 2019, and opened to the public in January 2020. When it opened, it featured a reconstructed studio and some of Derain’s graphic works. The construction of the house and the artist’s studios therefore belong to different periods in its history.
The church of Sainte Clotilde in Chambourcy-Aigremont also has a building history that probably spans several centuries. The building may date back to the 9th century; the bell tower, nave, and porch are attributed to the 12th, 17th, and 18th centuries, respectively. This chronology offers another perspective on the development of the church building without assigning all its parts to the same period.
Admission to the church is free. From July 1 to August 31, it is open daily except Mondays from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., and on Saturdays and Sundays from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. From September 1 to June 30, the listed hours are daily from 9 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. and on Saturdays and Sundays from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Opening hours may change, so check them before your visit.
Fruit Varieties and a Walk
The Verger de la Marnière adds the preservation of old regional fruit varieties to the themes of garden art and architecture. The orchard, managed by Les Croqueurs de pommes, is dedicated to preserving these varieties and to educational activities. It has around 400 fruit trees, including 125 apple varieties. These figures give a clear sense of the orchard’s size; its focus is both on preserving diversity and on education.
For a walk, you can head down from Allée Frédéric Passy to the Rû de Buzot and enjoy a leisurely stroll as far as the Serres des Princesses. This offers another way to explore Chambourcy as part of your itinerary, alongside visits to the garden and buildings.
Choose Your Visit Dates and Accommodation
If you are travelling to Chambourcy for Le Désert de Retz, you could first consider a weekend between April and October as a possible visit date, bearing in mind that last admission is at 4:30 p.m. Then check whether Sainte Clotilde’s seasonal opening hours also fit your stay. Choose your accommodation according to your own requirements, and confirm the visiting hours for the dates you have planned.
Discover more destinations: Chevreuse, Achères, Bouafle, Mareil-sur-Mauldre, Milon-La-Chapelle, Montalet-le-Bois, Perdreauville, Raizeux
For the regional travel overview: Yvelines.
