How about stepping back in time to discover Les-Essarts-le-Roi? This urban village in the Yvelines offers a blend of rural charm and urban convenience. It is near Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines and Coignières.
Les-Essarts-le-Roi is home to about 7000 residents. The town joined the Parc Naturel Régional de la Haute Vallée de Chevreuse in 2011. This protects local heritage and natural spaces.
Les-Essarts-le-Roi spans almost 8 km. It includes the hamlets of Layes Baudoins and Saint-Hubert. Four active farms still operate here Montmort La Tasse La Massicoterie and Malassis. The old village center retains its original structure. It provides essential services for daily life.
In 1994 Les-Essarts-le-Roi twinned with Salem. Salem is a tourist destination in southern Germany near Lake Constance. Les-Essarts-le-Roi covers 19.32 square kilometers. Its population density is 334.4 inhabitants per square kilometer. The altitude is 170 meters.
Neighboring towns include Auffargis Le Perray-en-Yvelines Coignières Lévis-Saint-Nom Saint-Rémy-l’Honoré and Dampierre. Les-Essarts-le-Roi can be reached via the RN10 towards Paris and Chartres. The S.N.C.F line runs from Montparnasse towards Paris and Chartres. The R.E.R Line B goes from Saint-Rémy-les-Chevreuse. Bus services connect Les-Essarts-le-Roi to Saint-Rémy.
Within Les-Essarts-le-Roi you will find schools. There are two elementary and two maternal schools. A college and a youth center also serve the community. Residents enjoy an intercommunal swimming pool. There are also two leisure centers a multi-purpose hall a multi-sport platform and a library.
Let us talk about some history of Les-Essarts-le-Roi. In 789 Pepin the Short gave the Yvelines forest to the abbey of Saint-Denis. King Hugues Capet organized hunts. These hunts drew a growing population. People were allowed to clear land and this act is called essarter. The village was created by royal decree under royal protection.
Monks founded a parish dedicated to Saint-Corneille and Saint-Cyprien. It belonged to the bishopric of Chartres. The church’s current appearance dates from the 14th century. In 1696 a small bell named Charlotte-Julie was installed in the steeple.
The Angennes family managed the seigneury of Les-Essarts until 1662. Later the lands became the property of the Count of Toulouse. Later still they became the property of the Duke of Penthièvre. Louis XVI bought the Rambouillet estate in 1783. This included the lands of Les-Essarts.
During the revolution Les-Essarts was renamed Les Essarts-la-Montagne. Napoleon created the district of Rambouillet in 1811. The first town hall also housed a school until 1878.
The blazon dates from 1884. The fleur-de-lis symbolizes the King’s role in founding the village. The oak leaf represents the rural and forest character. The hunting horns recall the area’s hunting heritage.
The current town hall stands on the site of the old Centre farm. Until 1984 residents bought milk and eggs here. The town hall patio features a sculpture by Jacques Coquillay. There is also a royal boundary marker in the flower bed.
The Layes chapel was built in 1204. The Château de l’Artoire was once home to Louis Alexandre de Bourbon. He was a son of Louis XIV. Les-Essarts-le-Roi strives to be a pleasant and flowery town.
Les-Essarts-le-Roi: a village with royal roots. It balances history nature and community.