Étampes
Encyclopedia
Étampes is a commune
in the metropolitan area
of Paris
, France
. It is located 48.1 km (29.9 mi) south-southwest from the center of Paris
(as the crow flies). Étampes is a sub-prefecture of the Essonne
department.
Étampes, together with the neighboring communes of Morigny-Champigny
and Brières-les-Scellés
, form an urban area of 26,604 inhabitants (1999 census). This urban area is a "satellite city" of Paris.
belonged to the crown domain. During the Middle Ages it was the scene of several councils, the most notable of which took place in 1130 and resulted in the recognition of Innocent II
as the legitimate pope. In 1652, during the war of the Fronde
it suffered severely at the hands of the royal troops under Turenne
.
, which borders the eastern outskirts of the serene town.
Inhabitants of Étampes are known as Étampois.
: Étampes and Saint-Martin d'Étampes
.
(now ruined) built by Louis VI
in the 12th century on an eminence on the other side of the railway. Notre-Dame du Fort, the chief church, dates from the 11th and 12th centuries; irregular in plan, it is remarkable for a fine Romanesque
tower and spire, and for the crenellated wall which partly surrounds it. The interior contains ancient paintings and other artistic works. St Basile (12th and 16th centuries), which preserves a Romanesque doorway, and St Martin (12th and 13th centuries), with a leaning tower of the 16th century, are of less importance.
The civil buildings offer little interest, but two houses named after Anne de Pisseleu
, mistress of Francis I
, and Diane de Poitiers
, mistress of Henry II
, are graceful examples of Renaissance
architecture. In the square there is a statue of the naturalist, Étienne Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire
, who was born in Étampes.
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 metropolitan area
Aire urbaine
The aire urbaine is a statistical region created by the INSEE that comprises a commuter belt surrounding a contiguous urban core...
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 48.1 km (29.9 mi) south-southwest 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...
(as the crow flies). Étampes is a sub-prefecture of the Essonne
Essonne
Essonne is a French department in the region of Île-de-France. It is named after the Essonne River.It was formed on 1 January 1968 when Seine-et-Oise was split into smaller departments.- History :...
department.
Étampes, together with the neighboring communes of Morigny-Champigny
Morigny-Champigny
Morigny-Champigny is a commune in the Essonne department in Île-de-France in northern France.Inhabitants of Morigny-Champigny are known as Morignacois.-Geography:...
and Brières-les-Scellés
Brières-les-Scellés
Brières-les-Scellés is a commune in the Essonne department in Île-de-France in northern France.Inhabitants of Brières-les-Scellés are known as Briolins.-References:** -External links:* *...
, form an urban area of 26,604 inhabitants (1999 census). This urban area is a "satellite city" of Paris.
History
Étampes existed at the beginning of the 7th century and in the early Middle AgesMiddle Ages
The Middle Ages is a periodization of European history from the 5th century to the 15th century. The Middle Ages follows the fall of the Western Roman Empire in 476 and precedes the Early Modern Era. It is the middle period of a three-period division of Western history: Classic, Medieval and Modern...
belonged to the crown domain. During the Middle Ages it was the scene of several councils, the most notable of which took place in 1130 and resulted in the recognition of Innocent II
Pope Innocent II
Pope Innocent II , born Gregorio Papareschi, was pope from 1130 to 1143, and was probably one of the clergy in personal attendance on the antipope Clement III .-Early years:...
as the legitimate pope. In 1652, during the war of the Fronde
Fronde
The Fronde was a civil war in France, occurring in the midst of the Franco-Spanish War, which had begun in 1635. The word fronde means sling, which Parisian mobs used to smash the windows of supporters of Cardinal Mazarin....
it suffered severely at the hands of the royal troops under Turenne
Henri de la Tour d'Auvergne, Vicomte de Turenne
Henri de la Tour d'Auvergne, Vicomte de Turenne,often called simply Turenne was the most illustrious member of the La Tour d'Auvergne family. He achieved military fame and became a Marshal of France...
.
Geography
Étampes lies on the beautiful river Chalouette, a tributary of the JuineJuine
The Juine is a 53-kilometre-long French river. It is a tributary off the left bank of the Essonne River.Its source is in Loiret, in the forest of Chambaudoin, less than 3 km south-west from Autruy-sur-Juine...
, which borders the eastern outskirts of the serene town.
Inhabitants of Étampes are known as Étampois.
Transport
Étampes is served by two stations on Paris RER line CRER C
The RER C is one of the five lines in the RER rapid transit system serving :Paris, France. It is operated by SNCF.The line runs from the northwestern terminuses Pontoise , Versailles – Rive Gauche and Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines to the southeastern terminuses Massy-Palaiseau , Dourdan-la-Forêt , ...
: Étampes and Saint-Martin d'Étampes
Saint-Martin d'Étampes (Paris RER)
Saint-Martin d'Étampes is a station in Étampes near Paris. It is served by Paris' express suburban rail system, the RER.- See also :* List of stations of the Paris RER...
.
Sights
A fine view of Étampes is obtained from the Tour Guinette, a keepKeep
A keep is a type of fortified tower built within castles during the Middle Ages by European nobility. Scholars have debated the scope of the word keep, but usually consider it to refer to large towers in castles that were fortified residences, used as a refuge of last resort should the rest of the...
(now ruined) built by Louis VI
Louis VI of France
Louis VI , called the Fat , was King of France from 1108 until his death . Chronicles called him "roi de Saint-Denis".-Reign:...
in the 12th century on an eminence on the other side of the railway. Notre-Dame du Fort, the chief church, dates from the 11th and 12th centuries; irregular in plan, it is remarkable for a fine Romanesque
Romanesque architecture
Romanesque architecture is an architectural style of Medieval Europe characterised by semi-circular arches. There is no consensus for the beginning date of the Romanesque architecture, with proposals ranging from the 6th to the 10th century. It developed in the 12th century into the Gothic style,...
tower and spire, and for the crenellated wall which partly surrounds it. The interior contains ancient paintings and other artistic works. St Basile (12th and 16th centuries), which preserves a Romanesque doorway, and St Martin (12th and 13th centuries), with a leaning tower of the 16th century, are of less importance.
The civil buildings offer little interest, but two houses named after Anne de Pisseleu
Anne de Pisseleu d'Heilly
Anne de Pisseleu d'Heilly , Duchess of Étampes, was the mistress of Francis I of France.She was a daughter of Adrien de Pisseleu, seigneur d'Heilly, a nobleman of Picardy, who, with the rise of his daughter at court, was made seigneur of Meudon, master of waters and forests of Île de France, of...
, mistress of Francis I
Francis I of France
Francis I was King of France from 1515 until his death. During his reign, huge cultural changes took place in France and he has been called France's original Renaissance monarch...
, and Diane de Poitiers
Diane de Poitiers
Diane de Poitiers was a French noblewoman and a prominent courtier at the courts of kings Francis I and his son, Henry II of France. She became notorious as the latter's favourite mistress...
, mistress of Henry II
Henry II of France
Henry II was King of France from 31 March 1547 until his death in 1559.-Early years:Henry was born in the royal Château de Saint-Germain-en-Laye, near Paris, the son of Francis I and Claude, Duchess of Brittany .His father was captured at the Battle of Pavia in 1525 by his sworn enemy,...
, are graceful examples of Renaissance
Renaissance
The Renaissance was a cultural movement that spanned roughly the 14th to the 17th century, beginning in Italy in the Late Middle Ages and later spreading to the rest of Europe. The term is also used more loosely to refer to the historical era, but since the changes of the Renaissance were not...
architecture. In the square there is a statue of the naturalist, Étienne Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire
Étienne Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire
Étienne Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire was a French naturalist who established the principle of "unity of composition". He was a colleague of Jean-Baptiste Lamarck and expanded and defended Lamarck's evolutionary theories...
, who was born in Étampes.
Monuments and tourist attractions
- Hôtel Anne-de-Pisseleu
- Théâtre buily by the architectArchitectAn architect is a person trained in the planning, design and oversight of the construction of buildings. To practice architecture means to offer or render services in connection with the design and construction of a building, or group of buildings and the space within the site surrounding the...
Gabriel DavioudGabriel DavioudJean-Antoine-Gabriel Davioud was a French architect.Davioud was born in Paris and studied at the École des Beaux-Arts under Léon Vaudoyer...
in 1851-1852, paid for by a public subscription - Regional leisure park (wave pool)
- Sculptures created by André Deluol : Vénus anadyomène, La Terre, Le Corbeau et le Renard, Jeune fille et oiseau, Un Ange, Deux danseuses nues
Religious edifices
- Église Notre Dame du Fort
- Église Saint-Basile
- Église Saint-Martin, famous for its leaning tour
- Église Saint-Gilles
- Chapelle de Gérofosse
- Chapelle de Guinette