“Spicarium,” a grange for ears of grain. That’s likely where the name \u00c9piais-Rhus comes from. We’re standing in a place with a history stretching back to prehistoric times.
\u00c9piais-Rhus is a French commune. It sits in the Val-d’Oise department. This is in the \u00cele-de-France region. The residents here are called \u00c9piais-Rhussiens.
This rural village has two main parts. There is \u00c9piais and Rhus. \u00c9piais is on the southern side of a gypsum butte. Rhus is nestled in a small valley. The Sausseron valley surrounds it. \u00c9piais-Rhus is part of the French Vexin Regional Natural Park.
The village is about 43 km north of Paris. Pontoise is 9 km to the south. Beauvais lies 33 km to the north. Gisors is 27 km southeast of \u00c9piais-Rhus. You can easily reach it via the old RN 15 and RN 327 roads now RD 915 and 927.
Did you know the GR1 long-distance hiking trail passes through here? It extends toward Grisy-les-Pl\u00e2tres and Livilliers. The area’s climate is considered a degraded oceanic climate.
The average yearly temperature is about 10.8 \u00b0C. The average yearly rainfall is 692 mm.
\u00c9piais-Rhus is a rural village. It is outside any urban unit. But it’s part of the Paris attraction area.
Evidence shows people lived here in prehistoric times. Tools and sharp stones were found in 1848. Foundations of old homes were discovered too.
An important archaeological site was found at Rhus. It covers fifty hectares. It contains Roman baths, temples, and a forum. The Gallo-Roman theater of \u00c9piais-Rhus is part of it. This shows the site was occupied from the 3rd century BC for over 700 years.
A Gaulish bracelet was discovered here. It is made of blue glass and very detailed. It was part of the “Bling-bling, les Gaulois?” exhibit in 2021. The Val-d’Oise archaeological museum displayed it.
\u00c9piais-Rhus was served by a railway line from 1886 to 1949. It was a secondary line with a narrow gauge. In 1960 a building in \u00c9piais-Rhus was used by kidnappers. They were holding \u00c9ric Peugeot.
The Notre-Dame church is a historical landmark here. It was classified in 1911. Nicolas Le Mercier designed it. It was built between 1570 and 1590. The church is in the Renaissance style. It is one of the most consistent churches from that period.
The Gallo-Roman archaeological site is also significant. It was listed as a monument in 1983. The site includes a theater and Roman baths.
Don’t miss the fountain called Petit-Vin. It has a small lavoir nearby. Also worth seeing is the old railway station near Rhus.
Several notable people have connections to \u00c9piais-Rhus. The artist Andr\u00e9 Deslign\u00e8res lived here. The composer Benjamin Godard stayed in a house called Bout du Monde.
The sculptor Arnaud Kasper has a house and open-air gallery here. Even Pablo Picasso visited this village. \u00c9piais-Rhus may be small but it has a rich past. It is filled with stories waiting to be discovered.