At the beginning of the 20th century, Bougival was a major centre for cleaning and washing laundry. An abundant water supply, aristocratic customers and the closeness of Paris led to the growth of a laundering business, documented as far back as the 18th century, which led to a particular type of architecture. When the weather […]
Bougival is embellished with a number of public fountains, which differ depending on their location. This particular one, surmounted by a carved bracket and lodged in a retaining wall when the church and its surroundings were being rebuilt, shows the importance of springs in the town and it collected water as it resurfaced after flowing […]
The prestigious history of Bougival’s great organ began when it was built in the workshops of the famous firm of Cavaillé-Coll, which was then in the hands of his successor Charles Mutin. It was here also that the magnificent organs of the Basilica of St Denis, Perpignan Cathedral and even Notre-Dame were built. The great […]
The building of the present Town Hall is a beautifully designed town house, which was built in 1863 for Madame Alexandre. In 1963, the former town hall was becoming too cramped owing to the increase in the number of inhabitants so the Municipal Council bought Madame Alexandre’s property and converted it into a Town Hall. 126 rue […]
The Impressionists This was the time of the “Belle Époque”, with its promenades, its boaters, its guingettes (open-air cafés with dance floors), its restaurants and hotels. The Boating Party in Bougival and the La Grenouillère Dance in Croissy competed with each other and Parisians jostled each other at them. People went boating everywhere, regattas and jousting events […]