Viarmes is a commune in the Val-d'Oise department, in the Île-de-France region, 30 km north of Paris.
Its territory of 8 km² is located on the borders of the Oise, in the Ysieux valley, and it is surrounded by several forests: the state forest of Carnelle to the west, the woods of Toutville to the south and of Seugy especially in the east. Occupied since Antiquity, Viarmes is the seat of a prosperous stronghold with a castle from the 12th century. The seigniory was bought by Jean-Baptiste de Pontcarré in 1758 who had the castle rebuilt and gave new impetus to the locality. This industrialized in the 19th century (production of lace) and developed further with the arrival of the railway in 1880.
Nowadays, Viarmes has some 5300 inhabitants and highlights its heritage and its leisure offer. cultural and "nature". Between the Paris region and Picardy, this small town in the countryside is worth the detour.
Its castle built in 1758 on the site of a medieval fortress by its lord Jean-Baptiste de Pontcarré, also provost of the merchants of Paris, is still today the jewel of the heritage of the town. Of classical architecture, with a U-shaped plan, it is built of cut stone and has a Mansart-style floor. An avant-corps on the facade overlooking the square is decorated with a pediment with bas-relief. At the level of the entrance, Doric columns support a roof which protects the steps. Sober but elegant, the castle has housed the town hall since 1857. Inside, the Rocaille (or Rococo) style woodwork has been preserved. The park, on the other hand, was sold and houses were built there. Protected as historical monuments, the building has also housed a museum dedicated to local history since 2005. Documents are on display and interiors have been reconstructed which allow you to observe the daily life of yesteryear (classroom, craftsmen's workshops, bedrooms, kitchens, etc.). Open to the public from Friday to Sunday (and every day for groups). Information on +33 1 34 68 03 76 or +33 1 34 09 26 26.
Another building listed in the Inventory, the parish church of Saint-Pierre and Saint-Paul dates from the 12th and 13th centuries for its oldest parts such as the apse and the "north" aisle (which overlooks Salvi square). The nave, on the other hand, was largely rebuilt in the 16th century. As for the bell tower, which evokes a belfry, it dates from 1885. There is a series of stained glass windows from the same period (1880s) representing in particular the Annunciation or the baptisms of Jesus and Clovis, and several paintings including a copy by Rubens. preserved. Note also that the church houses a marble high altar from the Abbey of Royaumont, old tombstones, a Louis XV style altarpiece. The building is open to the public every day and during Heritage Days in September, visitors can exceptionally climb to the top of the bell tower or belfry from where you can enjoy panoramic views of the city and its surroundings.
A more singular heritage is however to be discovered in Viarmes: it is its drinking water supply network which was fitted out by the Cistercian monks of the abbey of Royaumont in the 13th century. The water is thus captured in a basin located on a hill and routed underground to a fountain (known as the Fontaine aux Moines) which acts as a reservoir: it feeds the network downstream. The whole (building housing the Fountain and "looks") is inscribed.
This network but also other fountains (from the 19th century), still in operation, and the wells and washhouses which testify to the hydrological richness of the locality mark out a very instructive walk.
A monument paying homage to Georges Clemenceau (block of pink granite with medallion), Place Halbout, a Calvary and a niche housing a polychrome statue representing a Virgin and Child, rue de la Gare, and a mansion (le Hêtre Pourpre) transformed into a cultural space, rue Kleinpeter, can still be observed during a discovery tour of the local heritage.
In terms of culture, note that meetings, workshops and readings are regularly offered at the library: information on +33 1 34 09 26 34.
For athletes, it is possible to reserve a tennis court with the local club: contact +33 1 30 35 44 22.
The wooded and green areas in the immediate vicinity of the town, even the nearby Oise valley, finally turn out to be little paradises for hiking enthusiasts in a bucolic setting. Maps and information on +33 1 34 68 03 76 or +33 1 34 68 09 90. Unless you prefer to explore these landscapes during a horseback ride: then join the Moulin de Giez Equestrian Center on +33 1 34 09 35 09 or +33 6 26 41 83 01.
