Maisons de plaisance des environs de Paris

Once located ‘in the countryside’, the mansions of the Paris region – châteaux, houses and pavilions of various sizes – allowed the wealthy elite to leave Paris during the summer months and relax in a rural setting far from the hustle and bustle of the city. With the annexation of many former holiday residences to the capital and the ongoing development of the Parisian metropolis leading to today's Greater Paris, new questions are being raised about the links between the city and this once distant heritage.

This collective work focuses in particular on maisons de plaisance built between the mid-17th century and the end of the 19th century within the current boundaries of the Île-de-France region. Often overlooked and undervalued, the remains of the (non-royal) holiday resorts of the Île-de-France region from this period are now at the centre of attention. some of these buildings, which are still preserved, are now facing various challenges in terms of conservation, adaptation to new needs, public access, etc., but are also often threatened by urban transformations that respond to the changes in 21st-century society.