Did you know Sainte-Geneviève-des-Bois traces its origins back to the 6th century? Clovis the Great founded a priory here. He installed monks under the protection of Sainte-Geneviève of Paris.
Let’s explore Sainte-Geneviève-des-Bois. This commune lies in the southern suburbs of Paris. It is about 25 kilometers from the city center. Sainte-Geneviève-des-Bois resides in the Essonne department. This is part of the Île-de-France region. Around 34000 people call this town home.
The village around the priory took the name Sainte-Geneviève-des-Bois. The monks were called “Génovéfains”. Pope Eugene III confirmed this congregation. “Des-Bois” refers to the area’s abundance of woods.
The church in Sainte-Geneviève-des-Bois stands where the priory once did. This priory was founded in the 6th century. The church was remodeled in the 12th century. It was rebuilt in the 19th century. Recently, the interior has been restored. A wide nave opens to a bright choir. Two transepts increase its area. The left transept holds a reliquary. It contains bones attributed to Sainte-Geneviève. Three stained glass windows illuminate it. The center one depicts Sainte-Geneviève of Paris.
Sainte-Geneviève-des-Bois’ church possesses a significant heritage. The Ministry of Culture oversees it. Eight large paintings adorn the church walls. Since June 2014, they are listed as historical monuments. Skilled restorers restored the canvases and frames. These date from the 17th to 19th centuries. The DRAC supervised the restoration. Visitors can view these paintings in the church.
Sainte-Geneviève-des-Bois offers more than just religious history. The Moulin de Briquemault was built in the late 19th century. It stands on the site of an older mill. Powered by the Loing river, it ceased operation around 1955.
Only ruins remain of the Briquemault fortress. It likely predates 1152. It succeeded an older structure. The fortress style dates back to Louis VII’s time. The lord of Prégrimault owned it. The “friends of the Châtillon museum” nicknamed its last owner “the maquis of Briquemault”.
The Château de Belcour was built in the 18th century. It was once called “La Renardière”. Its chapel was built in 1788. During the Revolution, it was seized as national property. Architect Le Faune modified the château’s interior in 1872. Baron Costaz, who served with Bonaparte in Egypt, later owned it. Émile Mengin then acquired it. He was the grandfather of Roger Mengin, a hero of World War II. Roger Mengin is buried in Sainte-Geneviève-des-Bois’ cemetery. Louis d’Eichthal, a former mayor, also owned the château. Marcel Boussac purchased the property in 1919. He added Mivoisin in 1945. The farm, modified in the late 1880s, became a major dairy farm in the 1960s.
Though located five kilometers from the town in the woods, the Château de Beaumont is an ancient fortress. Ditches protect it. The original site of the feudal Château de Beaumont can be seen in a grove opposite the current Château de Bellecour. This seigniorial residence lasted throughout the royalty. Beaumont is simply the name of the Beaumont en Gatinais family. They were cousins of the last Capetians.
Sainte-Geneviève-des-Bois is also labeled a “town and village in bloom”.
In Sainte-Geneviève-des-Bois, a blend of history, nature, and art awaits.