Gentilly, Val-de-Marne
Encyclopedia
Gentilly is a commune
in the southern suburbs of Paris
, France
. It is located 4.1 km (2.5 mi) from the center of Paris
.
gentilis (meaning "gentile
", "pagan
", "foreigner") in reference to foreign goldsmiths who may have settled in Gentilly in the Early Middle Ages
.
of Paris.
On 13 December 1896, about half of the territory of Gentilly was detached and became the commune of Le Kremlin-Bicêtre
, leaving Gentilly as a rump commune after the 1860 and 1896 losses of territory.
was born in Gentilly (April 14, 1912). There is a Maison de la photographie Robert Doisneau
http://www.ville-gentilly.fr/sport-culture/culture/la-maison-robert-doisneauhttp://www.maisondelaphotographie-robertdoisneau.fr an international cultural center for humanist photography.
.
Communes of France
The commune is the lowest level of administrative division in the French Republic. French communes are roughly equivalent to incorporated municipalities or villages in the United States or Gemeinden in Germany...
in the southern suburbs of Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
. It is located 4.1 km (2.5 mi) from the center of Paris
Kilometre Zero
In many countries, Kilometre Zero or similar terms in other languages, is a particular location , from which distances are traditionally measured...
.
Name
The name Gentilly was recorded for the first time in the 6th century as Gentiliacum, a royal estate of some importance where coinage was minted. The etymology of the name seems to be "estate of Gentilius", a Gallo-Roman landowner. However, some other researchers think that the name is connected with LatinLatin
Latin is an Italic language originally spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. It, along with most European languages, is a descendant of the ancient Proto-Indo-European language. Although it is considered a dead language, a number of scholars and members of the Christian clergy speak it fluently, and...
gentilis (meaning "gentile
Gentile
The term Gentile refers to non-Israelite peoples or nations in English translations of the Bible....
", "pagan
Paganism
Paganism is a blanket term, typically used to refer to non-Abrahamic, indigenous polytheistic religious traditions....
", "foreigner") in reference to foreign goldsmiths who may have settled in Gentilly in the Early Middle Ages
Early Middle Ages
The Early Middle Ages was the period of European history lasting from the 5th century to approximately 1000. The Early Middle Ages followed the decline of the Western Roman Empire and preceded the High Middle Ages...
.
History
On 1 January 1860, the city of Paris was enlarged by annexing neighboring communes. On that occasion, about half of the commune of Gentilly was annexed to Paris, and forms now the neighborhoods of Maison-Blanche and Glacière, in the 13th arrondissementXIIIe arrondissement
The 13th arrondissement of Paris is one of the 20 arrondissements of the capital city of France....
of Paris.
On 13 December 1896, about half of the territory of Gentilly was detached and became the commune of Le Kremlin-Bicêtre
Le Kremlin-Bicêtre
Le Kremlin-Bicêtre is a commune in the southern suburbs of Paris, France. It is located from the center of Paris. It is one of the most densely populated municipalities in Europe....
, leaving Gentilly as a rump commune after the 1860 and 1896 losses of territory.
Culture
The famous photographer Robert DoisneauRobert Doisneau
Robert Doisneau was a French photographer. In the 1930s he used a Leica on the streets of Paris; together with Henri Cartier-Bresson he was a pioneer of photojournalism...
was born in Gentilly (April 14, 1912). There is a Maison de la photographie Robert Doisneau
Maison de la photographie Robert Doisneau
The Maison de la photographie Robert Doisneau is a photography gallery in Gentilly, Paris, created to commemorate the Parisian photographer Robert Doisneau....
http://www.ville-gentilly.fr/sport-culture/culture/la-maison-robert-doisneauhttp://www.maisondelaphotographie-robertdoisneau.fr an international cultural center for humanist photography.
Transport
Gentilly is served by Gentilly station on Paris RER lineRER B
The RER B is one of the five lines in the RER rapid transit system serving :Paris, France.The line runs from the northern termini Aéroport Charles de Gaulle and Mitry-Claye to the southern termini Robinson and Saint-Rémy-lès-Chevreuse ....
.
Notable residents
- St. Eligius, also known as Éloi de Noyon or Saint Éloi (c. 588 - December 1, 660) is the patron saint of goldsmiths, metalworkers, coin collectors, horses, and those who work with them.
- Saint MartialSaint MartialSaint Martial was the first bishop of Limoges in today's France, according to a lost vita of Saturnin, first bishop of Toulouse, which Gregory of Tours quotes in his History of the Franks.-Life:...
, third-century monk and first bishop of LimogesLimogesLimoges |Limousin]] dialect of Occitan) is a city and commune, the capital of the Haute-Vienne department and the administrative capital of the Limousin région in west-central France....
. - Pepin the Short (Pépin le Bref), eighth-century king of the Franks, son of Charles MartelCharles MartelCharles Martel , also known as Charles the Hammer, was a Frankish military and political leader, who served as Mayor of the Palace under the Merovingian kings and ruled de facto during an interregnum at the end of his life, using the title Duke and Prince of the Franks. In 739 he was offered the...
, and father of CharlemagneCharlemagneCharlemagne was King of the Franks from 768 and Emperor of the Romans from 800 to his death in 814. He expanded the Frankish kingdom into an empire that incorporated much of Western and Central Europe. During his reign, he conquered Italy and was crowned by Pope Leo III on 25 December 800...
. - Blanche of CastileBlanche of CastileBlanche of Castile , was a Queen consort of France as the wife of Louis VIII. She acted as regent twice during the reign of her son, Louis IX....
(1188–1252) is said to have owned a castle in Gentilly, the remains of which, chiefly underground vaults, still exist. - Isaac de BenseradeIsaac de BenseradeIsaac de Benserade was a French poet.Born in Lyons-la-Forêt in the Province of Normandy, his family appears to have been connected with Richelieu, who bestowed on him a pension of 600 livres. He began his literary career with the tragedy of Cléopâtre , which was followed by four other pieces...
, author and playwright of the seventeenth century, lived in Gentilly and died there in 1691. - Jacques Chapelle chemist and potter, director of the pottery works at SceauxSceaux, Hauts-de-SeineSceaux is a commune in the southern suburbs of Paris, France. It is located from the center of Paris.-Wealth:Sceaux is famous for the Château of Sceaux, set in its large park , designed by André Le Nôtre, measuring...
from 1748 to 1763, was born at Gentilly in 1721. - Robert DoisneauRobert DoisneauRobert Doisneau was a French photographer. In the 1930s he used a Leica on the streets of Paris; together with Henri Cartier-Bresson he was a pioneer of photojournalism...
, the photographer, was born at Gentilly in 1912. - Sophie MarceauSophie MarceauSophie Marceau is a French actress director, screenwriter, and author. She has appeared in 38 films. As a teenager, Marceau achieved popularity with her debut films La boum and La boum 2 , receiving a César Award for Most Promising Actress...
, the movie actress, born in 1966, lived in Gentilly. - Raymond Souplex is buried at Gentilly.