Saint-Sulpice-de-Favières is a commune in the Essonne department, in the Île-de-France region, 8 km south-west of Arpajon.
Its territory of 4.3 km² is located in the valley of the Renarde, the river, a tributary of the Barley, forming its "western" limit. Within the former province of Hurepoix, the village was mentioned before the year 1000 as a place of devotion dedicated to Sulpice the Pious (576-647): chaplain to the king then bishop of Bourges, renowned as protector of the poor, he would have resuscitated in these places a child drowned in the river in Chamarande (a few kilometers to the south-east), arousing the recognition of the populations of the region.
Succeeding primitive places of worship, a monumental church is dedicated to him, erected from 1245 in a Gothic style. With the dimensions of a cathedral, it gave rise to very popular pilgrimages until the 20th century.
Listed in 1840, the church is the jewel of the village which has also preserved a very green environment.
Nowadays, it remains a major point of attraction, Saint-Sulpice-de-Favières also being renowned for the arboretum built in the 19th century in the park of the Château de Segrez.
Although it has only nearly 300 inhabitants, the town is worth a detour: its heritage, the charm of the small town and the potential dedicated to hiking enthusiasts are unmissable!
It is the generosity of pilgrims coming to pray to Saint Sulpice that has made it possible to build what is sometimes nicknamed "the most beautiful village church in France". Its dimensions are in any case impressive: the apse alone is 23 m high!
The current church was mainly built from 1245 to 1315, integrating elements of an earlier church at the level of the so-called Chapel of the Miracles (according to the very words of the pilgrims...).
The nave was rebuilt in the 17th century, and the tympanum was damaged during the Revolution. Extensive restorations were carried out in the 19th century and then in 2007, but the Gothic style was retained. We observe in particular the portal whose tympanum evokes the Last Judgment, the square bell tower on the north side, or the large nave partly vaulted with warheads. Stained glass windows from the 13th century have been preserved on the right side, notably representing the Virgin and the Christ child.
Also worth seeing are the beautiful 16th century wooden stalls whose armrests are carved, depicting small figures, or even, in the Chapel of the Miracle, a reliquary bust of Saint Sulpice and a polychrome wooden statue of Saint Barbara.
Listed as a Historic Monument since 1840, the church houses many other objects and works of art, also listed.
A leaflet dedicated to the public is available, but guided tours are also possible. Contact +33 1 64 97 96 34.
On the square, nearby, are also to be seen the old presbytery (18th century, listed in the Inventory) or even elements of the old city wall dating from the 13th century century. With the other houses, so many buildings that have contributed to the charm of the small town justifying a few years ago that Saint-Sulpice-de-Favières represents the region in the contest of the Favorite Village of the French!
Without forgetting another major asset: the Segrez domain. This castle, north of the village, was rebuilt in a neo-classical style on behalf of André Haudry, a senior finance official as we did not yet say, in 1733. Later, became secretary of the king then farmer General, he rented the estate to the Marquis d'Argenson.
However, first laid out as a French garden, it was the castle park that attracted attention when, in 1782, it was transformed into a picturesque park with a two-room grotto decorated with shells from of the Pacific. We also speak of the "Anglo-Chinese" style for this type of garden.
The complex was bought in 1857 by Alphonse Lavallée, administrator of the Paris-Orléans railway company and co-founder of the central school and very quickly, his son Pierre-Alphonse Martin, botanist and horticulturist, initiated the creation an arboretum with more than 6,500 species! The whole covers more than 20 hectares. Maintained and enriched, labeled "Remarkable Garden", the site, still private property, remains today one of the most beautiful and rich arboretums in the region due to the rarity or age of the trees that make it up... Open to the public for guided tours for groups of at least 5 people. Inquire on +33 1 64 97 96 34.
Then just enjoy the bucolic and largely wooded environment of the town.
In addition to a guided walk through the village (booklet available at the town hall, contact +33 1 64 58 42 33), hiking enthusiasts can access the GR1 (which goes around the Paris region) and a "western" variant of the GR 665 (coming from Brussels and leading to Santiago de Compostela), the two routes meeting at Saint-Sulpice before heading east…
Other paths are also possible, including for example the old sandstone quarries exploited at the turn of the 20th century, north of the village.
Maps and information on +33 1 64 97 96 34.
