Recall those carefree childhood days of hide-and-seek. Now, imagine playing that game in a town brimming with history, culture, and natural beauty. That town is Jouy-en-Josas, a hidden gem just a stone’s throw from Paris. We stand here at the Jouy-en-Josas station, ready to explore this charming commune.
Jouy-en-Josas derives its name from the Latin word “Gaudium”, meaning joy. It truly lives up to its name. “Josas” was the ancient name of an archdiaconate of the archbishop of Paris. This town offers a delightful escape from the city’s hustle.
Our journey through Jouy-en-Josas begins in the ninth century. Monks from the abbey of Saint-Germain-des-Prés stimulated its early growth. Wars and epidemics decimated the population by the fourteenth century. Only three houses remained by 1466.
Later, Jouy-en-Josas became home to aristocratic families. Antoine d’Aquin served as the personal doctor to Louis XIV. Antoine-Louis de Rouillé became Secretary of State under Louis XV. These figures shaped the town’s identity.
In 1759, Christophe-Philippe Oberkampf, a German entrepreneur, established a factory here. This factory produced toile de Jouy. This cotton fabric was printed with vignettes of historical figures. These vignettes usually came in red or green on white cotton. Oberkampf became the town’s first mayor in 1790. His motto was “Recte et Viligenter”. It means “Uprightness and Vigilance”. The town adopted it for its coat of arms.
Industry declined after 1799 and further in 1815. This was when Napoleon was toppled. It was also when Oberkampf died. The Cartier Foundation for Contemporary Art briefly called Jouy-en-Josas home. It moved to Paris later. Since 1964, the HEC School of Management has resided here.
Let’s explore some of Jouy-en-Josas’s main sights. The Roman Catholic Church of St Martin stands as a landmark. Its oldest parts date back to the thirteenth century. Inside, admire the statues and sculptures. A statue of the Virgin Mary is most prominent. The Church also holds a painting of Jesus. Félix Hullin de Boischevalier painted it in the nineteenth century.
Not far from here lies the tomb of Christophe-Philippe Oberkampf. We can also visit the Château de l’Églantine. It houses a museum about toile de Jouy. Maréchal Canrobert built the Château de l’Églantine.
Another notable sight is the Château de Vilvert. It was built for Baron Cabrol de Monté. He was the mayor of Jouy from 1868 to 1879. We can also see the house of Léon Blum. He and his wife, Jeanne, settled in Jouy after World War II.
The Clos des Metz preserves Blum’s office and library.
Today, Jouy-en-Josas maintains a low unemployment rate. The average Jovacian earns twice the national average. It is also home to renowned education and research centers. These include HEC School of Management and the INRA.
Many notable people have lived here. Arman created the “Long Term Parking” sculpture. Jane Avril lived in the town center. Booba, a French rapper, resides in Jouy. Victor Hugo rented a house here for his affair with Juliette Drouet.
Before we move on, note that Christophe, a French singer, wrote “Aline” in a local café. Edgar P. Jacobs set part of his book “S.O.S Meteors” here. The Velvet Underground played their first concert with Lou Reed here since 1970.
Jouy-en-Josas seamlessly blends history, culture, and nature. As we leave, remember Oberkampf’s motto. May uprightness and vigilance guide our journeys.