“Privilege” is the word that comes to mind when residents describe living near Avenue de la Jonchère. This avenue is located near the Hameau de la Jonchère. This area sits on the heights of Rueil-Malmaison.
Avenue de la Jonchère offers access to this sought-after residential area. It is accessible via the Côte de la Jonchère. A small road crosses orchards to reach it. La Celle-Saint-Cloud borders the Hameau. The Bois de Saint-Cucufa backs onto it. This proximity to nature is a major draw. City dwellers appreciate this easy access to green spaces.
Napoleon I once used this area as his hunting grounds. Over time, the Hameau transformed into a residential area. Many manor houses from the 19th century still exist. Today, the area is private and gated. A caretaker has been present for decades. They maintain the grounds and ensure security. Shops are within walking distance. Excellent schools are nearby including Danielou and Passy Buzenval.
Transport links are a bit further away from Avenue de la Jonchère. Buses connect to the RER in Rueil. The L train line is accessible from La Celle-Saint-Cloud. Access to the A86 is direct from the bottom of the Côte de la Jonchère.
The Hameau now consists of nearly 80 houses. Prices have soared. They sometimes reach Parisian levels. My grandmother, Lydie Katz, moved here in the late 1960s. She recalls her life in the Hameau.
“At the time of the crisis in 1967 we were lucky. We were able to pay half price for a plot of land” she said. “It used to be orchards with a chicken coop at the end”. Her husband was an architect. This greatly simplified building their house. “Construction companies were afraid of layoffs due to the crisis” she remembers. “So, we were able to build the house at a knockdown price”.
In July 1969, they moved into their new house on Avenue Saint-Claire. They had three daughters. “At the time there was no paved road” she said. “They were dirt tracks. Some owners in the Hameau still went out in their horse-drawn carriages”.
“There was also a metal tube factory at the end of Avenue Joséphine. It was next to the current caretaker’s house”. The factory was dismantled. Several houses were built on the land. “Before we arrived children went to Sainte-Marie school. It was behind the village church of La Celle-Saint-Cloud” she recalls. “We had friends from the Hameau who were Jewish. They sent their children to this Catholic school”.
“The Chapel of the Hameau was no longer in use”. The clergy sold the Chapel to private individuals in 1976. This was 100 years after its construction. It was intended for demolition. The new owners still live there today. In the early 1980s, they walked Macha. Macha was their pet puma through the streets of the Hameau.
“The last wedding in the Chapel was for members of the Peugeot family. They lived in the Hameau”. The Peugeot family lived there for many years near Rue Sainte-Claire. Many celebrities have also made their home here. Line Renaud is an emblem of the area and still lives here. Nino Ferrer wrote his famous hit “Le Sud” here. Jeanne Mas is another personality who lived here.
Elisa has lived in the Hameau for almost 45 years. She says “It’s very family-friendly. Various activities are organised as well as an annual festival. A group called ‘Les gentilles agitatrices du hameau’ exists. It works to boost community life. Living here is a privilege”. Avenue de la Jonchère is a wonderful place to live.