Dream with me for a moment about Chanteloup-en-Brie. It is a French commune in the Seine-et-Marne department. Chanteloup-en-Brie is located in the Île-de-France region. The commune is part of the new town of Marne-la-Vallée.
Chanteloup-en-Brie sits approximately 36.5 km east of central Paris. Disneyland Paris is also close about 6.9 kilometers away. The commune’s altitude varies. It ranges from 90 meters to 124 meters. The town center is about 118 meters high.
The name Chanteloup-en-Brie comes from Old French. It means “where the wolf sings”. Some believe it refers to areas where wolves howled. Others suggest it comes from “chant de l’alouette”. This translates to the song of the lark.
Chanteloup-en-Brie had no known history until the 12th century. At that time the primitive church was established. The parish dates to the 13th century. In 1789, Chanteloup-en-Brie was part of the Paris region. The village followed the custom of Paris. The parish church dedicated to the Saint Sauveur belonged to the diocese of Paris. The village’s main crops were grains. A mill named Bourcier stood on the Gondoire stream.
The Saint-Eutrope festival occurred on April 30. It was moved to the first Sunday in May. Young people of 16 were “received” as boys. A large mass was held. Bread was blessed. A procession went to offer it to notable figures. A Savoy biscuit decorated with flowers was for the châtelain.
The Château de Fontenelle existed in the 13th century. It was a fief dependent on Lagny Abbey. In 1500, Nicolas de Neuviel Sentifer was called lord of D’heuil and Fontenelle. Later the families of Junquières and Cartier-Bresson owned the château. The current château was rebuilt in the last century. Monseigneur Roncalli the future Pope John XXIII stayed there. He was then apostolic nuncio in Paris. Today the Château de Fontenelle is a retirement home.
Chanteloup-en-Brie has grown while preserving its rural character. The Bois de Chigny covers 70 hectares. It maintains a village center around the church and town hall. In 1930, Chanteloup-en-Brie had 191 residents. A train from Lagny to Mortcerf served the village. It transported goods only. Another train transported sugar beets. It ran from Chessy to the Jonchère refinery. The refinery closed in 1964.
The Church of Saint-Eutrope has undergone significant restoration. Frescoes by Nicole Michigan adorn the interior. They depict the transfiguration. The church boasts a 15th-century polychrome stone statue of Saint Eutrope. It has been recently restored. The church also has a 13th-century bell. It is the oldest in the department. The bell bears an inscription. It translates to “I am called Pierre, knight of Chanteloup”.
Le Louvard was built in the late 18th century. Painter Kees van Dongen owned it in the early 20th century. The property is known for its gate and old trees.
The arms of Chanteloup-en-Brie are blazoned. The sinister piece represents the blazon of Seine-et-Marne.
In 2023, the town adopted an anthem. Frédéric Gombert composed “La Chanteloupienne”.