Auffargis: Nature and architectural heritage between valleys and waterways

Auffargis brings together an ecologically significant valley, traces of royal water-engineering history and buildings from different periods. This offers several ways to plan your stay: explore the landscape, combine a hike with historic ponds and channels, or discover the local architecture.

Valley, forest and historic waterways

The valley of the ru des Vaux is an area of particular ecological importance within the Regional Natural Park. Wetland habitats lie on the valley floor, while sandstone blocks characterise the sandy slopes. The damp valley floor and sandy, rocky slopes thus create distinct landscape features within the same valley.

Auffargis is also one of the municipalities included in the Réserve biologique dirigée de la Forêt de Rambouillet. This is another aspect of the protected landscape around the town.

The “Vallée intime et rigoles royales” hike first crosses the wooded valley of the ru des Vaux, then follows ponds and channels built under Louis XIV. Here, the valley and historic waterworks are explored together. The “L’aqueduc de Vieille-Église et les rigoles d’Auffargis” hike explores part of the hydraulic network that carried water to the Palace of Versailles. The two routes offer different perspectives: one follows the sequence of valley, ponds and channels; the other explores a section of the network.

Another route is “De l’ancienne Sablière aux eaux”: five kilometres long, it runs through the Bois domanial des Vindrins, east of Auffargis. This forest area complements the landscape and water-engineering themes of the other hikes. Before setting out, check local conditions and, for the aqueduct hike, the current trail markings.

Buildings and local history

The Lavoir de Saint-Benoist is an Art Deco washhouse. The Rothschild family had it built in 1929 and gave it to the hamlet’s residents. This building brings together a specific date of construction, a clearly identified style and a history of giving.

At the Manoir des Arts, Cyrille Morin and Muriel Chéné present glass and crystal works; a permanent exhibition displays their creations. If you would like to visit the gallery, check the current arrangements in advance, as they may change.

The present-day parish church of Saint-André was built in 1854. Its bell tower with porch is typical of the religious architecture of the second half of the 19th century. At the Château de la Fontaine, a different history and architectural details take centre stage: architect Yver designed the château for himself in 1876. Limestone and red-brick ornamentation, along with towers topped by pepper-pot-shaped roofs, define its design.

The Fontaine du Roi also offers different points of interest: the spring is protected by a dome made of millstones, and the garden provides walkers with a sheltered place to rest. Here, a distinctive architectural feature is combined with a place to linger.

Discover more destinations: Le Pecq, Voisins-Le-Bretonneux, Saint-Léger-En-Yvelines, Le Tremblay-Sur-Mauldre, Guyancourt, La Boissière-Ecole, Blaru, Montalet-le-Bois.

For the broader travel guide: Yvelines.