It has not yet returned to its English-style park. Nor the rose garden which, one hundred and fifty years ago, was the pride of its owner. But on this September morning, lit by the sun's rays that have made their way through the ash trees, the Villa Viardot looks great. On its south façade, the more completely horizontal line of entablatures that dominate the first floor testifies to the spectacular rescue to which the building has just been subjected. "In 2015, the entire right-hand side of the villa was in danger of collapsing. It had begun to dissociate itself from the rest of the building," recalls Luc Wattelle. The mayor of Bougival, who has agreed to act as our guide, does not hide his emotion as he enters the premises.
At the end of the signing by the city of Bougival of a long-term lease with the neighbouring town of La Celle-Saint-Cloud (owner of the land on which the villa is located), four years of work, initially estimated at 3 million euros and which will finally be completed...
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