The essonne gardens and châteaux trail

Essonne abounds in majestic and imposing châteaux, most of them surrounded by parks and gardens superbly maintained by their proprietors. seven châteaux, parks and gardens open to visitors are worthy of particular mention and make up the essonne section o

Domaine de courances  The Domaine de Courances with its 17 flowing springs is 150 hectares of wonderful grounds in the French style. The château, built in Louis XIIIth style, has a double horseshoe staircase which is a copy of the one in the palace of Fontainebleau. The grounds themselves, created to give pleasure to the beholder and the stroller alike, were laid out by the landscape designer André Le Nôtre in 1662, and are full of the pleasant murmurings of the springs which feed the ornamental pools, waterfalls and cascades. Recently a garden combining English and Japanese styles was laid out by the Marquise Berthe de Ganay.

Domaine de courson  35 hectares of superb landscaped grounds combining botanical and aesthetic appeal surround the late XVIIth century château. The variety of different species of trees, some of them over a hundred years old, others very rare, as well as the splendid layout, make these grounds a place full of poetic charm.

Domaine de st jean de beauregard  The Estate dominates the valley of the Salmouille and has retained its air of XVIIth century living with its parkland, its pigeon-house with 4500 perches (one of the most impressive in the Ile-de-France) and its XVIIth century kitchen garden covering two hectares and enclosed on all sides by walls.

Domaine de chamarande  The Château de Chamarande was built in 1654 and is renowned for the three colours in its construction - the hues of sandstone, brick and slate - and its Mansart-style roof line. It stands proud in the midst of its 200 hectares of grounds and woodland, through which the river Juine meanders. Its Louisiana cypresses, great purple beeches, vast lawn, ceremonial avenue of lime trees and dense woodlands all combine to form a veritable symphony of greenery orchestrated by the landscape-gardener Jacques Sgard.

Domaine du marais  This is more than just a château, it is a veritable palace reflected in a superb mirror of water. Around 1900, Duchêne designed the formal French-style garden beside XVIth century wooded parkland with remarkable trees. Two museums present the story of the residence and its illustrious guests.

Parc de jeurre  These 61 hectares of grassland and woodland is a true 'garden of surprises', a 'philosophical Eden' full of enchantment. Scattered throughout the grounds are follies which came originally from the grounds of Méréville designed by Hubert Robert and were dismantled then rebuilt in the grounds of the Château de Jeurre.

Chateau du saussay  This XVIIIth century château, consisting of two wings built facing one another, is surrounded by a moat fed by a branch of the river Essonne. The original French-style grounds, of which the large mirror of water and the great perspective over to the Ile de la Saussaye have both survived, was transformed into English-style parkland in the XIXth century. The interior of the château traces the lives of the illustrious families who once lived there, including the Bragelognes, made famous by Alexandre Dumas in his novel 'The Three Musketeers'. Among the treasures to be found inside is a magnificent Colbert library.