Long ago, the Romans recognized the strategic value of what we now call Herblay-sur-Seine. This location on the Seine River became a crucial crossing point. Herblay-sur-Seine has a rich history stretching back to Roman times.
Herblay-sur-Seine’s name first appeared in a document from 754 during the reign of Pepin the Short. Historians have recorded various spellings of the name over the centuries. For a long time, the history of Herblay-sur-Seine was linked to two ecclesiastical powers. These were the Lordship of Saint Denis and the Chapter of Notre Dame de Paris. Until the Revolution, they shared the right to collect the tithe. The tithe was a tax created in the 7th century. Traces of this past dominance remain. The former “Grange à Dîme” square is now called “Place de la Libération.” Also a vaulted cellar with ogives exists in the Val district.
Up until the 19th century, the main resources of Herblay-sur-Seine were vineyards. You can see this reflected in the town’s coat of arms. Agriculture and quarrying for plaster and stone were also important. Some streets still echo with the sounds of this history.
Several famous people have passed through Herblay-sur-Seine. Étienne Fourmont was a learned orientalist and member of the Academy of Inscriptions and Belles-Lettres in the late 17th century. In the 19th century, the writers Hortense Allart and Marie d’Agoult visited. Jean Leclaire and Pierre-Jules Soufflot were former mayors. They contributed greatly to the local community.
Herblay-sur-Seine boasts a 12th-century Gothic church. It was built on the site of a Merovingian necropolis. The Saint-Martin church overlooks a bend in the Seine. It was listed on the Supplementary Inventory of Historic Monuments on July 6, 1925.
The old parts of Herblay-sur-Seine are full of charm. The central streets wind and curve. Buildings from the 18th and 19th centuries have decorated cornices. You can also find votive niches and carriage entrances.
An old feudal castle exists. Since 1951, it has been the “Château Clinic.” The current town hall was acquired in 1938. It was once part of a larger estate called “Château de l’Abbeville.”
Herblay became Herblay-sur-Seine by ministerial decree in 2018. This change aimed to highlight its location on the Seine.
In 1947, the municipality asked Robert Louis to design new coats of arms. The town modified its blazon to include the Croix de guerre with a silver star. This honored the residents’ courage during the trials of 1939-1945. According to Robert Louis, the blazon is “gules, with three vine-grower’s serpes, or handled with sable.” The external ornaments symbolize the old vineyards.
The oldest preserved documents are parish registers dating from 1560. Some 18th-century documents are inventoried. However, the archives expanded after the French Revolution. This coincided with the creation of municipalities. Since then, the archives have grown. They reflect the organization and responsibilities of the town.
The town also keeps archives of dissolved unions and associations. Their headquarters were in Herblay-sur-Seine. Donations from people or companies are welcome. They enrich our understanding of the town’s history.
Each town must preserve and inventory its archives. These communal archives are public. They follow communication regulations. Most are accessible to anyone who requests them. They are also used in exhibitions and themed events.
Herblay-sur-Seine developed in the early 20th century. This was after the arrival of the railway. It further expanded after the Second World War. Like many towns in the Paris region, Herblay-sur-Seine experienced population growth from the 1960s. This went hand in hand with the creation of economic and commercial zones. The A15 highway passed through in 1977. Today Herblay-sur-Seine offers both urban life and natural beauty.