History of Bougival

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• The origins of Bougival

  

  In Roman times, a road which linked Paris to Rouen ran through the village, along the banks of the river, and a small hamlet developed on this site, known to locals as « La Chaussée ». « La Chaussée » became « La Chaussée Charlevanne », a site famous or notorious until 1778 for its Leprosy Hospital-the largest in the country, known as Sainte-Madeleine de Charlevanne. The name Charlevanne may well be linked to the the fishing industry which flourished in the middle-ages in and around Bougival. (...)

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• Bougival and the Reign of the Sun King

  

  In the mid-17th century, Bougival was a quiet village of 500 inhabitants. The lives of these 500 people were to change irremediably when the ambitious and visionary Louis XIV launched an extraordinary project : the construction of a large machine which would literally convey water from the river Seine several miles away, to the fountains and gardens of the palaces in Versailles and Marly. It was a challenging project, not least because the water would have to be transported 150 metres up a (...)

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• The Industrial Revolution in Bougival

  

  It was in 1838 that the building of locks on the river Seine permitted triver transport on a stretch of the river that had hitherto been impracticable. The river Seine rapidly became a popular means of communication and transport between Paris and the Channel. The steady flow of barges and steam boats became so intense that Bougival was forced to build two new locks in 1883 to keep up with the rising pressure on the river’s infrastructure. Despite the rapid changes brought about by the (...)

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• Bougival’s Golden Age : the impressionism

  

  In the closing decades of the 19th century, French society was subtly transformed. The incipient consumer society increasingly sought new types of leisure-outings to the country, new sports and forms of entertainment. Thus Bougival became a popular destination for Parisians seeking fresh air and outdoor entertainment. There were many restaurants and hotels on the banks of the river Seine as well as popular balls in the summer months. Every year, regattas and rowing competitions were (...)

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