Could this unassuming village, Voisenon, hold the key to a forgotten royal legacy? Just 39 kilometers southeast of the City of Lights lies Voisenon. This seemingly ordinary village boasts an extraordinary past, intertwined with French royalty and literary giants. Voisenon was once a powerful earldom, fiercely guarded by the influential Fusée family. Their legacy is etched in the very name of the village, a whisper of the ancient Roman road, the “Voye de Senon,” that once traversed these lands. Imagine the grand spectacle of those times – for Voisenon was no stranger to royal processions. It was here that King Louis VII, seeking respite from the bustling court, chose to build a magnificent palace for his wife, Adèle de Champagne. And within these very grounds, the queen, a woman of great piety, founded the grand Abbaye du Jard-la-Reine-lez-Melun between 1199 and 1204. As you stand here, picture the abbey in its full glory, a testament to the queen’s enduring faith. But Voisenon’s story is not just one of princes and palaces. It is also the tale of Claude-Henri de Fusée de Voisenon, a man of letters, an abbot, and a celebrated member of the prestigious Académie Française. He walked these paths, his sharp wit and gentle humor captivating even the great Voltaire. Today, Voisenon offers a serene escape from Paris. It remains a village at heart, its rich history whispering through the ancient trees and echoing in the tranquil beauty of its surroundings.
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.