Route du Plessis Piquet

In 1682, Jean-Baptiste Colbert, Louis XIV’s powerful finance minister, acquired the seigneurie of Plessis-Piquet. Route du Plessis Piquet, right here before us, takes its name from this historic estate. Colbert, nicknamed “Le Nord” for his austere demeanor, had already built a substantial residence on the grounds. The property featured ancillary buildings and a park, a testament to Colbert’s growing influence and wealth. The purchase solidified his ties to this tranquil area just outside the bustling capital. Route du Plessis Piquet thus bears witness to Colbert’s legacy. He was a key figure in shaping 17th-century France. His impact extended beyond the grand halls of Versailles to this quiet corner of what is now Châtenay-Malabry. Ironically, despite Colbert’s immense power and control over the nation’s finances, his own final resting place in the Saint-Eustache church holds only his legs. The rest of his remains were moved to the Paris catacombs in 1787. Route du Plessis Piquet therefore represents not only Colbert’s ambition and achievements but also the ephemeral nature of power and legacy. Even the grandest figures ultimately return to the earth, leaving behind only traces of their existence in names like Route du Plessis Piquet.