House Anne and Gérard Philipe

Maison Anne et Gérard Philipe is a mansion in Cergy built in the second half of the 19th century and later inhabited by the famous French actor and his partner Anne, an ethnologist and writer. The building, with its southwest-facing facade, large windows, and dormers, sits within a 2-hectare park with mature trees and borders the Oise river.

The estate dates back to the time of Louis XIV, when a royal architect built a castle and park for a local lord that extended to Gency. In the 19th century, vineyards disappeared and were replaced by a vegetable garden, until the house was purchased in 1954 by Gérard Philipe and Anne, who lived there until 1959.

The house served as a retreat for writers and intellectuals, where authors like Claude Roy and Georges Perros worked on their projects. Anne used the space to write travel narratives inspired by her journeys in Asia, making it a gathering place for a close circle of writers, directors, and creative people.

The house is currently closed to the public due to restoration work expected to be completed by 2026, but the surrounding park can be visited during cultural events. The location is easy to access, being near a main road and offering good connections to the rest of Cergy.

In the 1950s, the residents modified the original building by covering the stone facade with cement and adding large windows toward the river, embracing modern industrial aesthetics. These changes reflect a deliberate rethinking that reshaped the old structure with contemporary living in mind.