The Sourderie district in Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines

A walk in the Sourderie district of the new town of Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines, west of Paris

The Sourderie district is located in the town of Montigny-le-Bretonneux in the new town of Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines, 30 minutes from Paris. To get to this district with its atypical architecture, it is better to take your car. You can always come on foot from the station of Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines but the journey is rather long and not very interesting (walking along main roads). The visit itself is quite short, you just have to go around the lake to see everything. The walk is interesting, it presents a different attempt of architecture. It will not leave anyone indifferent. Perfect for a short weekend walk.

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Difficulty: difficulty
Duration: 2 h.
Departure point (Google Maps)

Les Arcades du Lac

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Les Arcades du Lac
The Arcades du Lac dates back to the 1980s. The goal was to stop building large complexes as in the 1960s. Art was also to invest in social housing.

A place

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A place
The architect Ricardo Bofill was inspired by the gardens of the nearby Chateau de Versailles to create this housing complex.

The entrance to the Viaduct

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The entrance to the Viaduct
The Viaduc is a collective building located directly on the water. This time the architect was inspired by the Château de Chenonceau.

The interior of the Viaduct

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The interior of the Viaduct
One can walk in the central alley of the Viaduct. We do not visit the interior because they are private homes!

The Viaduct

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The Viaduct
The building sits directly on the water. The buildings, characterised by bold geometric shapes and green spaces, reflect the architect's unique style.

The Sourderie basin

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The Sourderie basin
The water plan is a wastewater retention basin. It was dug before the creation of the buildings in 1980.

The Temples of the Lake

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The Temples of the Lake
On the other side of the basin, Ricardo Bofill drew his inspiration from classical Greek architecture. The district, nicknamed "The People's Versailles", is often regarded as an architectural masterpiece offering an innovative and aesthetically pleasing residential environment.

The Temple

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The Temple
Les Temples du Lac is a social housing complex.

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