Route de Longboyau

Where eagles dare, on the edge of the Empress’s sprawling domain, lies the Route de Longboyau. The Route de Longboyau isn’t just a road. It’s a thread in the rich tapestry of Malmaison’s history. It whispers tales of imperial grandeur and echoes with the footsteps of those who walked before us. Imagine Empress Joséphine, her carriage rattling along the Route de Longboyau in 1810. She’s just returned from Switzerland, inspired by the quality of their dairy. Joséphine, ever the innovator, decided to import Swiss cattle. She established a dairy farm, complete with over 500 sheep, near the Étang de Saint-Cucufa, accessible via the Route de Longboyau. The forest, now the Forêt Domaniale de Malmaison, was her personal haven, a 200-hectare extension of her Malmaison estate. The Route de Longboyau served as a gateway to this sanctuary, where she often entertained guests with carriage rides through the verdant landscape. The forest itself was a testament to Joséphine’s ambition. She expanded the original Malmaison estate to encompass nearly 1,000 hectares, stretching as far as the woods of La Celle-Saint-Cloud. The Route de Longboyau witnessed this transformation, a quiet observer of the Empress’s growing empire of beauty. After Joséphine’s death, the estate was fragmented and partially deforested. However, her grandson, Napoleon III, rescued it from further division. He repurchased the land in 1856. He added it to his civil list, ensuring its protection. But the Route de Longboyau also saw darker days. In 1870 and 1871, it became a strategic point during the Franco-Prussian War. The forest, including the Route de Longboyau, was the site of fierce assaults by Captain de Nisme’s artillerymen. Today, the Route de Longboyau offers a tranquil escape, a path through a historical landscape. As you stroll along, remember the carriages, the cattle, and the clash of arms. The Route de Longboyau is more than just a road. It is a living link to a fascinating past.