At Home in Maisons-Laffitte

We may never have gotten to know Maisons-Laffitte if it weren’t for our American clients who had a small budget, a young son, a pet dog and a need to be near or in Paris seeking a good alternative for the high cost of living in the city while being near bilingual schools.

One of our staff who had been an “au pair” in this pretty suburb of Paris exclaimed its virtues for the perfect lifestyle for a family needing to satisfy those conditions. I had never been there. Perhaps you haven’t either.

It’s not well known, not at least by Parisians — certainly not as well recognized as another suburb nearby in the department of Yvelines — Saint-Germain-en-Laye — about 20 kilometers from Paris well known for its large Anglophone community, its bilingual schools, it’s beautiful château, and the adjacent national forest of the same name. Inhabitants are called “Saint-Germanois.” It’s considered one of the more affluent suburbs of Paris with its elegant tree-lined streets and exclusive residential neighborhoods (the Golden Triangle of the Yvelines: Chatou, Croissy-sur-Seine, and Le Vésinet).

Both Saint-Germain-en-Laye and Maisons-Laffitte can be reached quickly and easily by Line A of the regional train system (RER). We first set out to find a commune along this line so that the family would be close enough to Paris to regularly enjoy what the city offers.

Maisons-Laffitte has its own château (built by architect François Mansart in the 17th century) and is part of Yveline and the “arrondissement” of Saint-Germain-en-Laye. It’s most famous for its racetrack, and is known as the “cité du cheval.” Horses and riders on horseback are a common sight along the tree-lined streets.

Originally it was called “Maisons-sur-Seine” until the commune changed its name in 1882 to honor banker Jacques Laffitte who financed the housing developments on the estate of the Château de Maisons-Laffitte. The château has a secret passage to what is now the well known and respected Collège de l’Ermitage — an international school founded in 1941. A few famous folks have lived in Maisons-Laffitte, including artist, writer and filmmaker Jean Cocteau.

The commune turned out to be the perfect answer for this family and we all fell in love with all it has to offer. Properties in their price range were not abundant, but available and for half the cost of a Paris apartment, the family of three found a well-designed compact two-bedroom apartment on an arbored development just near the Seine adjacent to the race track within walking distance of the RER station and the center of town.

This morning the deed was signed and they can now begin their move to France and the beautiful, tranquil and well-situated Maisons-Laffitte.

If you are considering a move to Paris, but your budget won’t afford as much as one needs for central Paris living, consider the suburbs in the west where the livin’ is easy…and elegant.

A bientôt ,

 Adrian Leeds

The Adrian Leeds Group

Respond to Adrian: [email protected]

P.S. Plan your getaway for a few days in the sunny south of France and you can now rent any of our bright, comfortable and luxurious Parler Nice Apartments for a minimum of just 3 nights. For more information visit Parler Nice Apartments or email [email protected].