Dominated by chestnut trees the forest of L’Hautil stands as a natural border. It divides the Seine valley and the Oise valley. L’Hautil is more than just a collection of trees. It’s a place with a past.
Once, L’Hautil provided wood for the local village. The wood was used to make stakes. These stakes supported vines and shrubs. It was also used to make barrel hoops and ladders. Oak from L’Hautil became houses’ frames. It also became the barrels themselves.
Beneath the forest floor lies a wealth of gypsum. Near the edge of L’Hautil lies the hamlet of Écancourt. Here, workers once mined the gypsum. Their homes were near their workplace at L’Hautil.
Did you know L’Hautil is one of the highest points in the region? It reaches 191 meters. This makes L’Hautil a true landmark. It overlooks the Oise and Seine valleys. It also watches over the Vexin Français plains.
People have lived near L’Hautil since Neolithic times. Evidence suggests a population similar to that near Montmorency. Protohistoric remains exist in the valleys above Vaux-sur-Seine. These are known as the “Grandes gorges.” Two ancient enclosures have been found. One is called “Camp de César.” The other is at “Fortes-Terres.”
Small raised stones dot the forest. Some stones marked the boundaries of L’Hautil. Others may have had religious uses. One stone became Christian. It was dedicated to Notre-Dame du Bon Secours.
During the Gallo-Roman era, settlements clustered in the valley bottoms. Vineyards appeared with the rise of Christianity. Christians promoted wine over beer. L’Hautil offered ideal conditions for vineyards. Slopes facing the rising sun ensured good sunlight. The nearby Seine River allowed easy transport to Paris.
For nearly 1000 years, vines thrived on L’Hautil. The “vin de France” was a well-known white wine during the Middle Ages. Louis VII even gifted wine from Triel to Canterbury Cathedral. Many vineyards belonged to the abbey of Saint-Denis.
However vineyards gradually disappeared after the 19th century. Cheaper wines from Languedoc and Bordeaux became popular. These wines were more affordable for Parisians.
The plateau of L’Hautil became pastureland. Locals gathered stones for building. Poor residents scraped the surface for fuel. In 1500, Triel had to pay 300 gold écus for grazing rights.
In the mid-17th century, royal huntsmen arrived. Old roads closed. New ones opened but with barriers. L’Hautil became a royal hunting ground.
After 1764, landowners tried to claim rights to the hill. Religious women from Poissy abbey sold 100 hectares. Others enclosed pastureland. These actions sparked disputes. Justice was not served until 1830.
Gypsum mining began in the late 18th century. In 1764, Hocquart de Coubron bought the fief of Vaux. He started mining gypsum. He also built a “plaster port” at Port-Maron. In 1770, he built a porcelain factory in Fort-Vache. He used kaolin from L’Hautil.
Gypsum mining grew in the 19th century. Many quarries opened. During World War II, the quarries offered shelter. In 1944, 4000 people from Triel took refuge there.
Today, the quarries are closed. L’Hautil’s landscape bears scars from mining. Sinkholes appear regularly. Ponds formed from collapsed quarries. Parts of the forest are closed due to the risk of sinkholes.
In the 18th century, most of L’Hautil’s forest vanished. The land became heath. Farmers used it for grazing. In 1768, Louis XV granted land to farmers who cleared it. However the soil proved poor. The forest slowly reclaimed the land.
Today, the Bois de l’Hautil covers 1250 hectares. The Forêt Domaniale de l’Hautil was created in 1970. It was the last of its kind in the Île-de-France region. The association “Bien Vivre à l’Hautil” works to protect this unique area. L’Hautil provides an oasis of green space and biodiversity.