Ever wonder what a rural commune in the Val-d’Oise department looks like? That would be Génicourt. I am excited to share its story. Génicourt is a French commune in the Île-de-France region. Its residents are called Génicourtois.
Génicourt sits on the agricultural plateau of French Vexin. It is within the regional natural park of the same name. Génicourt is north of the Cergy-Pontoise agglomeration. Paris is 40 kilometers southeast of Génicourt.
The municipality borders Livilliers, Osny and Boissy-l’Aillerie. It also touches Épiais-Rhus. Grisy-les-Plâtres and Cormeilles-en-Vexin also border Génicourt.
The village has existed for a long time. However, serious documents are lacking. Some cut and polished flints were found in the fields. Génicourt has always been an important passageway. Enemy troops headed toward Pontoise or Paris camped here in the 15th and 16th centuries. Important figures stayed at the “Château” of Génicourt. Nicolas Brûlart, marquis de Sillery was one such figure. He was a King’s advisor.
In 1691, Génicourt moved. It moved from the election of Gisors to that of Pontoise. Many other parishes in the region also moved. At that time, Génicourt was a prosperous agricultural village. It supplied the Pontoise mill with grain.
In 1827, Gérocourt was attached to Génicourt. Gérocourt is a small village northwest of Génicourt. This increased the population of the commune by 30%.
Génicourt experienced remarkable growth in the early 20th century. The village had an electricity distribution network by 1914. Crafts were relatively developed. The town had farmers plus a farrier. There was also a cooper, a cartwright, a carpenter and a mason. The Gérocourt farm had its distillery. It processed beets into alcohol. There was also some small commercial activity. Two bistros, a grocer, a tobacconist and a milk merchant served the people. Other merchants were ambulant. They included a baker, a butcher, a pork butcher and a fishmonger.
Surprisingly, Génicourt had the first public swimming pool in Val-d’Oise. The pools were developed in 1947. They were covered in 1982. The pool welcomed up to 6,000 visitors per month. It taught swimming. It was a place for recreation. It was also used for physiotherapy in an aquatic environment. However, by the end of the 20th century, the establishment no longer met European standards. The cost of the work was too high. The pool’s future was compromised. The storm of December 1999 caused significant damage to the building. This accelerated its closure.
In 2022, the population was 515. In 1801, Génicourt had 148 inhabitants. Gérocourt had 42. The town is categorized as a rural commune. It is a dispersed habitat.
The name Génicourt comes from Jherincurt. Other names include Gainericorth and Jerincuria. These names were used in the 9th century. Gerincorth and Gerincort were used in the 12th and 13th centuries.
Génicourt has a historical monument. It is the portal of the old Saint-Pierre-et-Saint-Paul church. The portal is on Rue des Fossettes. The church was demolished in 1905. However, the richly sculpted Renaissance-style portal from the 16th century was saved. The church dated from the 12th and 16th centuries. It was cruciform in plan. It had a nave, a rectangular choir, and a transept narrower than the central vessel. Two bays formed two side chapels. Lack of maintenance caused problems in the roof and walls. This was due to the weight of the central bell tower. It was closed to worship in 1830 due to danger. Génicourt was not a parish then. Neither the State nor the diocese could finance the restoration. After an animated meeting, the municipal council unanimously decided to destroy it in 1904. This caused controversy. Neither the departmental administration nor the antiquities and arts commission were informed. The new church likely cost much more than restoring the old one. Only a buttress and various elements recovered inside remain. These include statues and a tombstone. The baptismal fonts date to the 15th or 16th century. The bells are also preserved.