Discovering Jean Racine
Jean Racine is a very famous French poet and playwright (whose sister is also the ancestor of my husband). He stayed at the Abbey of Port-Royal-des-Champs, a major site of Jansenism ; and a path now bears his name because the poet enjoyed walking it, which leads from the Abbey to the Château de la Madeleine, for which he oversaw the construction work. The abbey, the château, and the « Jean Racine » path are just next to us, and we can visit and explore them.
The Abbey of Port-Royal-des-Champs
Jean Racine stayed several times at the Abbey of Port-Royal-des-Champs, located near Saint-Rémy-lès-Chevreuse in the Chevreuse Valley. In the mid-17th century, Port-Royal-des-Champs was a major intellectual and spiritual center in France, particularly associated with Jansenism.
Racine’s time at Port-Royal had a significant influence on his intellectual and religious formation. He received a rigorous education there, which profoundly impacted his later literary career.
Jean Racine maintained ties with Port-Royal even after his departure. In his will, he requested to be buried there, and Louis XIV granted his wish to be interred alongside his former mentors.
The Château de la Madeleine
The Jean Racine path arrives at the northwest side of the château, which overlooks the town of Chevreuse. It is a remarkable castle, built between the 11th and 15th centuries to withstand attackers and control access to the Chevreuse Valley. Likely the best-preserved fortress in Île-de-France, in the 17th century, around 1661, Jean Racine supervised several modifications to the château, including those of the keep.
The "Jean Racine" Path
Jean Racine enjoyed walking this path, which is now marked and bears his name. He used it to travel from the Château de la Madeleine, where he oversaw construction, to the Abbey of Port-Royal-des-Champs, where he was raised and to which he remained very attached. This path offers a pleasant and easy hike through rolling landscapes shaded by large trees.
Marie, Jean Racine's sister, my husband's ancestor
Marie Racine is the direct ancestor of my husband, passing through several notable figures, including Louis-Joseph Maës (the great-grandfather of my husband’s grandfather), a prominent man of the 19th century. Louis-Joseph Maës, who served as the mayor of Clichy and was close to Napoleon III, is also the founder of the Cristallerie de Clichy, one of the most prestigious crystal manufacturers of his time. This crystal factory competed with, and sometimes surpassed, the two other major crystal manufacturers in France, namely Saint-Louis and Baccarat. My husband will be able to passionately share the history of these notable figures in his family tree.