<< Abbaye des Vaux-de-Cernay || The Château >>
 |
Hunting is no longer the main activity in the Forêt de Rambouillet, which now attracts hikers, riders, cyclists and nature lovers, and the forest critters continue to thrive. The Espace Rambouillet wildlife preserve offers a protected habitat to many species, including birds of prey such as falcons and eagles. And although Rambouillet is technically outside the Haute Vallée de Chevreuse Regional Park limits, they remain connected by dozens of cycle paths, Grandes Randonnées hiking trails, and tree-lined country roads.
All of the interesting sights in Rambouillet are on or just off the town’s pleasant main street, Rue du Général de Gaulle. Given a face lift in the late 1990s, the street’s wide sidewalks are lined with brasseries, gift boutiques, restaurants and real-estate agencies. Head to the Place de la Libération, a square (used as a parking lot) just outside the entrance to the château grounds. The tall building on the left is the Hôtel de Ville (Town Hall, www.rambouillet.fr), built in 1786 as a grain storage center and bailiff’s courthouse. The façade is actually made out of stone and plastered to look like brick. Napoleon officially handed over the building to the local authorities in 1809, an event commemorated by a small inscription on the pediment.
Stop into the small tourism office next door to pick up local maps, sightseeing multi-site brochures, and information on current events taking place around town. Ask for the English brochure, Rambouillet: From One Garden to Another, for a self-guided, 90-minute walking tour of the town’s main buildings and sites, with historical commentary.
TIP!Public toilets can be found around the corner from the tourism office. |
- IN THIS CHAPTER:
- The Château
- The Château Park
- The Village
- Specialty Museums
