Did the name “Bussy” originate from bushes? Here we are in Bussy-Saint-Martin, and the answer might surprise you. While “Bussy” might sound like it came from “bushes,” its origins are a bit murky. The name comes from the Latin words “buxa” or “buxus,” meaning “bush” or “wood.” These eventually morphed into the old French “bouix” and then “buis.” Although the “buxido” at the root of Bussy-Saint-Martin’s earliest recorded name seems to point to “buis,” we can’t be entirely sure. What we do know is that Bussy-Saint-Martin was once a heavily wooded area. The addition of “Saint-Martin” to the town’s name didn’t occur until 1277. Before that, Bussy-Saint-Martin and its neighbor, Bussy-Saint-Georges, were a single entity ruled by the Lords of Bucy. Only at the end of the 12th century, around the time the church was built, did the two settlements go their separate ways. Bussy-Saint-Martin has a rich history interwoven with its landscape. It offers a glimpse into the evolution of French villages, from their names to their architecture.
Église Notre-Dame de l’Air
Beneath what appears to be a simple stone and wood structure lies a history interwoven with faith aviation and community.