Suddenly, the air is filled with the scent of fresh baguettes. This transports us to Maincy. Maincy is a village with a rich history. It earned the label “Small City of Character”. This acknowledges its history. It also recognizes the preservation of its built heritage.
Maincy is in the Seine-et-Marne department. It is part of the Île-de-France region. You will find it about 60 km from Paris. Maincy is deep in the French countryside. A car is useful to explore the area.
The village of Maincy dates back to the Middle Ages. Its Romanesque church is evidence of this. Maincy was the village attached to the Château Vaux-le-Vicomte in the 17th century. Before that, the Goblin factory was here.
Maincy boasts the Saint Etienne Church. An earlier church dedicated to Saint Etienne stood where the current church is now. Its bell tower sits high on a former defense tower. Buttresses remain very visible. The four gargoyles are from the 13th century. Nicolas Fouquet influenced the church’s design. Louis Le Vau, his favorite architect, enlarged and enhanced the church. He created a decorative facade in the Louis XIII style. An open porch flanks the left aisle. It is raised on steps and gives the church originality.
The bell tower stands on the site of an old Gallo-Roman tower. A sanctuary dedicated to Saint Etienne existed around the year 1000. Some remnants from the 12th century are still visible. Fouquet destroyed the village of Vaux to build his castle. He then restored Maincy’s church. This restoration occurred under Louis Le Vau in the 1660s. The Sommier family bought the Vaux-le-Vicomte estate in 1889. They also invested in the church. Major works continued until World War I.
Maincy is home to the Maison des Carmes. Fouquet’s tapestry workshops were located here. King Louis XIV moved these workshops to Paris. They became the Gobelins tapestry. Paul Cézanne painted the bridge at Trois-Moulins. It is on the Almont river. The painting, Pont de Maincy, is in the Orsay Museum in Paris. Near the church sits a less-known lavoir, or wash house. It preserves old traditions.
The Almont river starts in the pond of Ancoeur. It is 35 km from the village in Bailly-Carrois. The river crosses the village center. It then flows into the Almont. Maincy built a public lavoir or wash house in 1853. Water flowed to it under the street through a vaulted passage.
Maincy covers 1,019 hectares. Half of this area contains the Vaux-le-Vicomte estate. This estate is a masterpiece of classical 17th-century architecture. Maincy has maintained its village character and natural environment. The charm of its streets and the presence of water enhance its appeal.
Many notable people passed through or stayed in Maincy. These include André Le Nôtre, Nicolas Fouquet and Louis Le Vau. Alfred Sommier and Paul Cézanne were also visitors. Jean Alexandre Melchior de Vogüé was a French resistance fighter. His son, Patrice de Vogüé, managed the Château de Vaux le Vicomte until 2020.
Maincy offers a glimpse into French history. It combines architectural beauty with a quaint village atmosphere. Its story is intertwined with powerful figures. It is also linked to artistic expression. As you explore, remember the layers of history. They shaped this charming French village.