Lost in the heart of the Yveline forest lies Saint-Arnoult-en-Yvelines. This village has a history stretching back 1500 years. Imagine a time long before smartphones and highways.
Saint-Arnoult-en-Yvelines’ story begins with a legend. The year was 535. A funeral procession made its way through the forest. It carried the body of Arnoul a revered bishop. He had served in Tours and traveled extensively.
The procession was stopped at the old péage des Carnutes. This was a toll collection point. From this event a cult was born. Soon after a village grew around it. And so did another péage.
The modern péage of Saint-Arnoult-en-Yvelines is fifty years old. But its origins go back much further. Bishop Arnoul had a remarkable life. He was raised at the court of Reims. He served as an emissary to Rome Constantinople and Jerusalem.
Saint-Arnoult-en-Yvelines has seen many changes over the centuries. In 1960 Marie-Josephe and Jean-Claude Houssinot moved here. They became fascinated by the village’s history. They are part of the local historical society. The couple has written nine books about Saint-Arnoult-en-Yvelines.
Their books explore local anecdotes. These stories intertwine with the broader history of France. Saint-Arnoult is on the road to Lutèce. It lies 50 km from Notre-Dame. It has always been a place of passage. The A10 A11 and the TGV Atlantique pass through here today.
One of their books explores the magic square in the crypt. It was rediscovered in 1952. The square is a Roman numeral engraving. It mirrors one in Dürer’s “Melancholia” painting. All the sums in the square equal 34. There are 34 ways to find 34.
Saint-Arnoult-en-Yvelines is more than just a village. It is a place where history and legend intertwine. The relics of Saint Arnoult and his wife Scariberge are here. This unassuming village holds secrets waiting to be uncovered.