Strolling through Bi\u00e8vres today reveals a town of tranquil charm. It is a world away from the chemical waste that once plagued its namesake river. Bi\u00e8vres is a French commune. It sits fifteen kilometers southwest of Paris in the Essonne department. Nestled in the wooded valley of the Bi\u00e8vre, the town boasts a rich history.
Bi\u00e8vres was once the cradle of the abbey of Val-de-Gr\u00e2ce. This was before its relocation to the Latin Quarter in Paris. The area is home to six ch\u00e2teaux from the 17th and 18th centuries. For a time, Bi\u00e8vres served as a residence for scholars and artists. That lasted until the early 20th century.
Today, Bi\u00e8vres is known for several cultural institutions. These include the French Museum of Photography and the Museum of Tools. The town also hosts the International Photography Fair. These are set within a preserved environment. Its rural atmosphere is prized by families and executives. They come from the vast business parks of V\u00e9lizy-Villacoublay and the Saclay plateau.
Historically, the Bi\u00e8vre River played a vital role. However, it became heavily polluted by factories. Leatherworks, dye shops, and laundries dumped waste into its waters. By the early 1860s, city officials were concerned about health hazards. They also worried about the terrible stench from the Bi\u00e8vre.
Eventually, the waterway was covered at the end of the 19th century. It now runs underground. The Bi\u00e8vre area reflected contrasting views of Old Paris. Some saw it as a colorful working-class community. Others viewed it as a dangerous slum needing modernization.
The name Bi\u00e8vres comes from the Bi\u00e8vre River. The river’s name may come from the Gaulish word bebero. That means beaver. During the Revolution, the town was named Bi\u00e8vre-la-Montagne. It later was Bi\u00e8vre le Chatel before reverting to its original name.
Bi\u00e8vres’ origins are ancient. Human occupation in the Bi\u00e8vre valley dates to the Stone Age. Gallo-Roman settlements suggest the presence of a villa rustica. The first certain mention of Bi\u00e8vres was in the 12th century. King Louis VI the Fat united the parish with the French royal domain.
In the 14th century, King Charles V made the area a seigneurie. He gave it to his friend Pierre de Chevreuse. The poet Eustache Deschamps praised the village. It was then three leagues from Paris.
Later, Queen Anne of Austria invited nuns to relocate to the new Val-de-Gr\u00e2ce abbey in Paris. The 18th century brought changes. The rigole de Favreuse was dug to drain water from the Saclay plateau. It went to the ponds that fed the Versailles fountains.
Proximity to Versailles led to the construction of ch\u00e2teaux like Les Roches and La Martini\u00e8re. Figures like Pierre Le Tessier de Montarcy and Georges Mareschal became lords of Bi\u00e8vres.
The French Revolution redistributed properties. A new nobility acquired land and built residences. General Jean-Andoche Junot and surgeon Dominique-Jean Larrey lived here. Louis-Fran\u00e7ois Bertin built the ch\u00e2teau de Vauboyen. He hosted artists like Victor Hugo.
Following Jouy-en-Josas’ example, a painted canvas factory was established. Artists like Juliette Dodu, Odilon Redon, and Camille Saint-Sa\u00ebns stayed in Bi\u00e8vres. In 1858, F\u00e9lix Nadar took the first aerial photograph over Bi\u00e8vres. The Grande Ceinture line opened in 1883. That connected Bi\u00e8vres to Versailles.
Today, Bi\u00e8vres maintains its village charm. It balances rural tranquility with urban access. The town’s rich history and vibrant cultural scene continue to attract visitors. It is a blend of past and present. Bi\u00e8vres offers a unique glimpse into French heritage.