Rue du Morbras

Slipping through Seine-et-Marne and Val-de-Marne, the Morbras River whispers secrets as it flows. Here, at Rue du Morbras, we stand by the echoes of this unassuming waterway. Rue du Morbras takes its name from the river that shapes the landscape. The Morbras River isn’t just a pretty stream. Its name, stemming from “Mortbras” or “dead arm”, hints at a past when it meandered through a now-vanished marshland before joining the Marne. The river begins its journey in the Forest of Armainvilliers, near Pontcarré. Then it flows westward, cutting through agricultural plains between Roissy-en-Brie and Noiseau. The Morbras acts as a natural border between Sucy-en-Brie and Ormesson-sur-Marne. Its journey concludes as it merges with the Marne east of Bonneuil-sur-Marne, near the RER A railway line. The Morbras isn’t a long river, just 17.6 kilometers. Yet it touches eight communes along its path. These include Pontcarré, Roissy-en-Brie, Pontault-Combault, La Queue-en-Brie, Noiseau, Ormesson-sur-Marne, Sucy-en-Brie, and finally Bonneuil-sur-Marne, where it meets the Marne. Imagine the riverbanks bustling with activity as mills harnessed its power. One such mill, the Moulin d’Amboile in Ormesson-sur-Marne, still stands as a classified historical monument. Rue du Morbras bears witness to this history. It connects us to a time when the river was a vital resource. Today, the Morbras is a haven for anglers. The river, along with its tributaries, is classified as a second-category waterway. The Morbras River, with its humble length, has a rich past intertwined with the communities it touches. So as you stroll along Rue du Morbras, remember the river’s journey. It’s a story of a “dead arm” that continues to pulse with life.