Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The terrace and rock cave of Juvisy-sur-Orge is part of the layout of the park of the castle of Juvisy, made between 1632 and 1657 under the impulse of its owner, Michel Le Masle. Although this project was attributed without proof to André Le Nôtre, it would have been assisted by François Blondel for the construction of the retaining wall. The park, including a cave and a hunting lodge, retained its original route until the 19th century, despite aborted projects such as a hydraulic mill in 1825.

In the 19th century, the park suffered successive dismemberment. In 1875, Mr. Jaworovski split a first part, followed in 1890 by the acquisition of a section by Camille Flammarion, adjacent to his property. The creation of roads (rue de l'Église, avenue d-Estienne d-Orves) and the subdivision of the lower park (1885) transform the site, with avenues such as rue des Gaulois or avenue de la Terrasse. In 1905, a new subdivision was organized by Mr. Lehèque, a marbrier industrialist, according to the plans of the Neighboring Geometer.

The 1944 bombings, including the one on 18 April destroying houses around the station, led to a reconstruction led by urbanist Paul Ohnenwald and architect Léo Mendelssohn. They restore key elements such as the water mirror, the iron-to-horse and the central driveway, while designing green urban planning for the neighbourhood. The terrace and its cave, protected since 1947, now bear witness to this landscaped and architectural heritage.

The site, originally linked to the seigneurial life of the castle, evolves with the industrialisation and urbanization of Juvisy-sur-Orge. Its history reflects the social and economic transformations of the region, from its role as an aristocratic domain to its integration into the modern urban fabric. The 1947 protection emphasizes its historical and aesthetic value, despite the alterations suffered over the centuries.

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