Ideally located 50 km from Paris, Rambouillet Territoires links the Île-de-France and Centre regions. It combines a tourist region with an important tourist heritage and a dynamic economic territory. Rambouillet Territoires assures this connection. Let’s delve into the story of this unique community.
Rambouillet Territoires, until early 2015 known as Communauté d’agglomération Plaines et Forêts d’Yveline, is a French community. It is located in the Yvelines department and the Île-de-France region. The first discussions on intercommunality began in the early 1990s. Émancé, Gazeran, Hermeray, La Boissière-École, Mittainville, Raizeux, and Saint-Hilarion wanted to preserve a strong rural identity. They also wanted to maintain low urbanization. The territorial project developed in 2002 highlighted the need to extend the reflection to Orcemont. Orphin, Poigny-la-Forêt, Rambouillet, Sonchamp, and Vieille-Eglise-en-Yvelines also joined.
The Communauté de communes Plaines et Forêts d’Yveline was created. It initially included fourteen municipalities. Saint-Arnoult-en-Yvelines joined the community. It continued to expand. Ponthévrard joined first. Then Bonnelles, Bullion, Cernay-la-Ville, La Celle-les-Bordes, Longvilliers, and Rochefort-en-Yvelines followed. Later, Auffargis and Saint Léger en Yvelines joined. Gambaiseuil also became a member.
In 2017, the communauté de communes became a communauté d’agglomération. It took a new name: Rambouillet Territoires Communauté d’Agglomération. Later, this Rambouillet Territoires Communauté d’Agglomération merged. It merged with the Communauté de communes Contrée d’Ablis-Porte des Yvelines and the Communauté de communes des Étangs. This created a new communauté d’agglomération. It took the name Rambouillet Territoires.
The communauté d’agglomération includes municipalities south of the Yvelines department. It includes a central city, Rambouillet. There are four “trait d’union” cities: Saint-Arnoult-en-Yvelines, Les Essarts le Roi, Le Perray en Yvelines, and Ablis. It also has rural and forest municipalities.
Rambouillet Territoires has its headquarters in Rambouillet. The address is 22 rue Gustave Eiffel. The communauté d’agglomération is administered by its community council. The 2020-2026 term has 67 members. They represent each member municipality. Representation is proportional to population. Rambouillet has 18 delegates. Les Essarts-le-Roi and Le Perray-en-Yvelines have five each. Saint-Arnoult-en-Yvelines has four. Ablis, Auffargis, and Bullion have two each. The other 29 municipalities have one delegate or a substitute.
Thomas Gourlan is the president of Rambouillet Territoires. He was elected in 2020. He aims to put the mayors back at the center of the community. Rambouillet Territoires acts for the economic development of the territory. It creates meetings with local economic actors. It supports municipalities in developing commercial activities. The community promotes sustainable development.
Rambouillet Territoires manages cultural facilities. These include the Gabriel Fauré conservatories in Rambouillet and Saint-Arnoult-en-Yvelines. It also supports home care for the elderly and people with disabilities. This is done through its Centre Intercommunal d’Action Sociale.
From its early beginnings to its present-day structure, Rambouillet Territoires plays a vital role. It shapes the lives of its residents. It fosters economic growth. It preserves the environment. It promotes culture. Rambouillet Territoires is a testament to the power of collaboration. It shows what can be achieved when communities come together.