Commune of the Essonne, in Ile-de-France, Verrières-le-Buisson is located on the border of the department of Hauts-de-Seine, not far from Gif-sur-Yvette. A veritable green lung of the region, it takes place about ten kilometers from Paris or Versailles.
Occupied since the Palaeolithic, the territory of Verrières-le-Buisson only becomes a village in the Gallo-Roman period, with the presence of a villa. Owned by the abbey of Saint-Germain-des-Prés since the sixth century, the commune was renowned in the seventeenth century when Louis XIV decided to make his forest a royal domain and an important hunting rendezvous. It is experiencing significant population growth in the course of the twentieth century, becoming an important city in the suburbs of Paris.
As the center of horticulture with the installation of the Vilmorin family, which has left its arboretum to the town, Verrières-le-Buisson also presents an important architectural heritage which still attracts visitors who want to know more about this part of the island -La France. Its numerous natural spaces, such as its national forest, make it a popular place for people looking for clean air and preserved flora.
Much of the territory of Verrières-le-Buisson is occupied by the forest of Verrieres, which covers about 150 hectares. Composed of oak, ash or birch, it was for a long time an important hunting ground for the kings of France. The town also has other natural areas, such as the arboretum Vilmorin, former property of the famous family of horticulturists, or the municipal arboretum. The first was created in the early nineteenth century in an old hunting lodge of Louis XIV, by Philippe André de Vilmorin. It extends over four hectares and reveals trees and shrubs from all over the world. Private, it can be visited upon written request and is open during the Days of the Patrimony. The second arboretum extends over 1.5 hectares and was classified as a regional nature reserve in 2004. It is possible to discover different types of places, such as a meadow, a pond, a nursery area, an orchard, Or a wooded area. The commune of Verrières-le-Buisson is crossed by the GR 11 hiking trail that surrounds the Ile-de-France region and the GR 65 trail, which corresponds to Via Turonensis, a pilgrimage route to Santiago de Compostela.
The commune is home to a part of the Regional Nature Reserve of the Bassin de la Bièvre, a space classified nearly six hectares allowing to appreciate the local fauna and flora.
Built in the 17th century, Château Vaillant is located in the town center, not far from the forest of Verrieres. Rebuilt in 1720, it unveils a French garden as well as a terrace accessible by a double staircase. It was listed in Historic Monuments in the 1960s.
Registered in part with the Historical Monuments, the castle of Vilmorin dates from the XVIIth century. Enlarged in the second half of the 18th century, the building became the property of the Vilmorin family as early as 1815. You can still admire the arboretum, as well as a park classified nature reserve.
Built between the 11th and 13th centuries, the Notre-Dame-de-l'Assomption church dominates the Bièvre valley, as well as the Vaillant castle. Incendiary during the wars of religion, it was rebuilt in the sixteenth century, then renovated in the XIX. In millstone and limestone, it has been partly inscribed in Historical Monuments.
As you walk through the town, you can also admire the 17th century Château du Bois-Loriot, as well as that of Mignaux from the 18th century.
In the heart of the forest, prehistoric deposits unveiling Palaeolithic and Neolithic workshops have been updated on over one thousand hectares and classified as Historic Monuments.
The 19th century town hall as well as the early 20th century Red Cross distillery and the mid-19th century washhouse of Amblainvilliers are also worth a visit, as is the Grais Second half of the 17th century.
The market is held every Wednesday and Saturday morning. An arts and crafts market is proposed in October. In December, the city offers a lively Christmas market with illuminations and craftsmen from all over.
A funfair takes place in the town in May.
The month of May is also the scene of a charming jazz festival which highlights concerts, meetings and musical workshops.
Throughout October, Verrières-le-Buisson as other cities in the region joins in the feast of science with several lectures and other entertaining activities.
The festival of short films is organized every year in December with projections, meetings and other cinematographic discoveries.