Saint-Maurice: Culture, Architecture and Water Engineering

Saint-Maurice stretches between the Marne to the south and the Bois de Vincennes to the north. This geographical span links the river landscape and the forest as landmarks of the town. Historic buildings, cultural offerings and water infrastructure offer different perspectives on Saint-Maurice. When planning your trip, you might consider whether to focus mainly on architectural history, an artistic programme or a cycling tour.

Churches and Architectural History

At the Church of Saint-Maurice, a site in use for a long time is linked to a later rebuilding: a church has stood here since the 11th century; the present church was built during a reconstruction at the end of the 17th century. The two dates distinguish the history of the church site from the construction period of the present building.

The Church of Saints-Anges represents a different era; it was built in the 1930s for the Gravelle neighbourhood. Its structure is made of reinforced concrete. Geometric decorations in red brick are inspired by Byzantine art and its iconography. This brings different building methods and designs together: the long history of the Church of Saint-Maurice’s site and the 20th-century architecture of Saints-Anges.

The Maison natale d’Eugène Delacroix connects architectural history with the painter’s life: his birthplace is an hôtel particulier, a grand town house dating from the 18th century. Elements from the 19th century have been preserved on its rear façade, including wrought-iron balconies. The different building periods can therefore be seen in a single building. Today it houses the municipal media library. If this is important to your plans, check the latest visitor information in advance.

At the Hôpital Esquirol, the focus is on the design of a larger complex. The building was redesigned in the 19th century, and its façades and roofs are inspired by Italian architecture. The complex includes courtyards lined with colonnades, as well as terraces and sloping ramps. This brings the courtyards, connecting spaces and layout of the building into focus alongside its individual façades.

The former Hôpital National de Saint-Maurice is part of the area’s institutional history. Under Napoleon III, it was built as a convalescent home for men, to treat workers injured on the construction sites of Haussmann’s building projects. Its original purpose links the site’s history with the care provided to these workers.

The Moulin de la Chaussée adds the once widespread milling activity along the banks of the Marne to the area’s architectural history. It is the only surviving mill building from this formerly common activity. Building elements from the 17th and 19th centuries give the structure a history spanning several centuries.

Culture, Cycling Route and Water Engineering

The Théâtre du Val d’Osne offers a varied artistic programme that changes over time. If you would like to plan a visit to a performance, check the programme for your travel dates.

Water engineering is also one of Saint-Maurice’s themes. The old Saint-Maurice / Maisons-Alfort weir was built in 1910; the new structure, rebuilt in 1998, is fully automated. The Saint-Maurice / Maisons-Alfort lock is 125 metres long and 12 metres wide, and enables boat traffic. Its dimensions give a concrete sense of the scale of this facility for boat traffic.

For cycling travellers, the A Vélo dans la Vallée route is a useful landmark. It runs along Rue du Maréchal Leclerc to Saint-Maurice and then follows a cycle path towards the Church of Saints-Anges. The route also passes Place de l’Ecluse to reach Quai de Bir-Hakeim, where it runs alongside the canal. The named streets, square and quay mark different points along the route. As cycling infrastructure can change, check the latest route overview before setting out.

Near Saint-Maurice, Lac de Gravelle lies on the edge of the Bois de Vincennes. There are opportunities there for family walks and fishing. If you are planning either activity, check local access information and conditions.

Find a Hotel to Suit Your Stay

When looking for a hotel in Saint-Maurice, consider the purpose of your trip: would you like the stay to focus on architectural history, include the programme at the Théâtre du Val d’Osne, or centre on a ride along the A Vélo dans la Vallée route?

Discover more destinations: Choisy-Le-Roi, Nogent-Sur-Marne, Charenton-Le-Pont, Fontenay-Sous-Bois, Sucy-En-Brie, Cachan, La Queue-en-Brie, Villeneuve-Saint-Georges

For the broader travel overview: Val-De-Marne.