Grigny: Local History, Art and Walking Routes

Grigny offers several distinct points of interest for your trip: historic buildings, musical history, art in a residential development, and routes around the Lacs de l'Essonne. The town’s history is reflected in buildings and details spanning several centuries. If you’re looking for a hotel in Grigny, it helps to first consider which of these interests you’d like to shape your stay.

Church and historic furnishings

The Église Saint-Antoine et Saint-Sulpice dates from the 12th and 14th centuries. Inside, seven 19th-century tapestries depicting biblical scenes adorn the church; they are classified as historic monuments. The Marie bell is also classified as a historic monument: it dates from 1541 and weighs 520 kilograms. The altarpiece in the Chapel of the Virgin Mary at the Église Saint-Antoine in Grigny dates from the 18th century. Together, these buildings and works of art represent different periods—from the medieval church building to the bell and the 19th-century tapestries.

Ferme Neuve and village washhouse

Ferme Neuve was built between 1730 and 1750 by Guillaume-François Joly de Fleury, the lord of Grigny. It replaced the farm that belonged to the nearby manor house. Today, the renovated Ferme Neuve is owned by the municipality, and Grigny’s new town centre is taking shape around it.

Another historic building is the village washhouse, built in 1873. Its roof, with a central open basin, forms an impluvium. The complex also includes a barbotoir, a main basin and a rinçoir. Alongside the history of a former agricultural estate, Grigny therefore also offers the architecture of a communal washhouse as a distinct point of interest.

Walking tour, musical history and art

The Circuit patrimonial du village comprises ten stops and was inaugurated on 5 October 2013. It aims to preserve Grigny’s history and allow walkers—residents and visitors alike—to connect with that history and develop a sense of belonging. The route thus links local history with a purpose specifically intended for walkers.

A personal link to the history of music leads to the house at 10 Rue Pierre Brossolette in Grigny. Sidney Bechet lived there with his wife from 1950 to 1959. He composed “Petite Fleur” in this house and “Les Oignons” around the same time.

In the 1970s, architect Emile Aillaud designed La Grande Borne as a unique residential development for artists. Its features include numerous “pignons images” decorated with mosaics, as well as sculptures. In contrast to the biographical story of music, the focus here is on the artistic design of a residential development.

Routes and cultural information

The Lacs de l'Essonne extend across Viry-Châtillon and Grigny. There are three signposted routes by the lakes, measuring 1.5, 2.5 and 4 kilometres. This allows you to choose a route based on your preferred distance when planning your visit.

The Médiathèque Pablo Picasso offers novels, comics, magazines, language-learning books, CDs and Blu-rays. There is also an area for young children and their parents. The Médiathèque is a five-minute walk from Grigny RER station on Line D and is also accessible by bus line N135 to the “Gare de Grigny centre” stop. As timetables, collections and facilities may change, check the latest information before your visit and consult the bus timetable for your journey.

Discover more destinations: Fontenay-lès-Briis, Villiers-sur-Orge, Chalou-Moulineux, Breuillet, Saclay, Gometz-le-Châtel, Ormoy, Lisses

For the wider travel guide: Essonne.