Discover Baillet-en-France

Baillet-en-France brings together several themes to consider when planning your trip: the Église Saint-Martin and its works of art, a statue connected with the 1937 Paris World’s Fair, the history of Soviet sculptures, and a wild-growing orchid in the Parc du Bois de l'Étang. Road cycling and a golf club add to the picture, each with its own participation or access requirements. If you are planning a stay in Baillet-en-France and looking for a hotel, these differences can help you decide what to focus on during your trip.

Church, art and local history

The Église Saint-Martin was consecrated on 14 September 1529. The church houses a double-sided wooden painting: one side depicts Saint Martin, the other a holy bishop. The choir also has a historical connection: it may have been the former chapel of the Seigneurs d'O. This connection remains a possibility, not a definite attribution.

Another art story connects Baillet-en-France with the 1937 Paris World’s Fair. Roger de Villers created the seven-metre-high statue Notre-Dame-de-France for the Papal Pavilion. About 50 years later, Edmond Fricoteaux installed the statue in Baillet-en-France. Thus, a work of art from the history of the fair and its later installation in the town represent two separate stages.

A separate story concerns Soviet statues. The USSR gave them to the CGT; during the Popular Front, they were installed in the château’s park. Later, they were broken, moved to a remote location and forgotten in the château’s icehouse. Concrete statues from the Soviet pavilion erected in Paris in 1937 were recently found in the icehouse of the château in Baillet-en-France. The Soviet sculptures attributed to Joseph Tchaïkov adorned the Soviet pavilion at the 1937 Paris International Exposition of Art and Technology in Modern Life. This makes it possible to distinguish the two art stories: Notre-Dame-de-France was created for the Papal Pavilion, while the Soviet sculptures belonged to the Soviet pavilion.

Getting there and things to do

For travel by train, it is recommended to take a train from Gare du Nord towards Luzarches or Persan and get off at Montsoult/Maffliers station. Bus route 1309 connects Baillet-en-France with Montsoult SNCF station. Check current train and bus schedules before travelling so you can plan your journey.

The purple orchid grows wild in the Parc du Bois de l'Étang; it is also known as Orchis purpurea. For nature enthusiasts, this specific plant species complements the town’s historical and artistic attractions. The Club Cycliste de Baillet-en-France offers weekly road cycling rides and invites cycling enthusiasts to join the club. If you are interested in taking part, check the details before your trip.

The Paris International Golf Club is located in Baillet-en-France. The course is reserved for members and their guests. Bear this restriction in mind if golf features in your travel plans; it differs from the cycling club’s open invitation to join.

Discover more destinations: Avernes, La Roche-Guyon, Magny-en-Vexin, Taverny, Survilliers, Auvers-Sur-Oise, Herblay, Osny.

For the wider travel overview: Val-D'oise.