“A golf course in the making? Right here?” a skeptical voice might have exclaimed back in 1954. It’s true, what is now the prestigious Golf de Saint-Nom la Bretèche was once simply farmland, a hillside property nestled between the Forest of Marly and the plains leading to Versailles. But Daniel Feau, a man with a vision, saw its potential. He envisioned a grand golf course, a revolutionary idea in a France yet to fully embrace the sport. The Golf de Saint-Nom la Bretèche, born from this dream, became a reality over five years of meticulous transformation. The old farm buildings found new life: the stables became the caddymaster’s domain, the chicken coop gave way to the chipping green, and the main courtyard transformed into the putting green. By 1960, both the Bleu and Rouge courses were complete, marking the rise of a golfing haven. This wasn’t just a golf course; it evolved into a landscaped park of exceptional beauty. Its significance was cemented in 1963 when it hosted the tenth Canada Cup, a gutsy move for a then-fledgling golfing nation. The event attracted huge crowds, put the Golf de Saint-Nom la Bretèche on the international map, and even saw golfing legends Jack Nicklaus and Arnold Palmer clinch their first of four titles together. But the Golf de Saint-Nom la Bretèche wasn’t done making history. For 34 years, from 1970 to 2003, it hosted the prestigious Trophée Lancôme, a key event on the European Tour that drew the world’s best golfers year after year. The whispers of legendary players still seem to echo on its greens, a testament to the enduring allure of the Golf de Saint-Nom la Bretèche.
Église Notre-Dame de l’Air
Beneath what appears to be a simple stone and wood structure lies a history interwoven with faith aviation and community.