Envision the ancient oaks of Rouvres their branches reaching towards the heavens. Rouvres a small commune in Seine-et-Marne has stood for centuries. Its name hints at a Celtic past a time when druids harvested mistletoe from sacred oak trees. These very trees once thrived here. Their presence a testament to Rouvres’s deep roots.
Imagine the bustling life of this village. The 12th-century chateau at Othis. It was once linked to the chateau of Dammartin by a network of underground tunnels. One such tunnel is said to have led from Othis to the chateau of Rouvres. Local legend speaks of a coffin swallowed by the earth during a funeral in 1860. It disappeared into the Orcheux tunnels in Rouvres.
Rouvres was once a priory under the Abbey of Saint-Faron. Saint Pierre is its patron saint. A granary once stood here. The village’s agricultural life flourished under the Second Empire known for its rose garden. The annual rose selection took place on Saint-Médard’s Day.
The 17th century saw Messire Henry Salle Lord of Rouvres. His daughter married Jean Jacques le Mairat. Land was exchanged between them and the Lord of Montagny Sainte Félicité. The 18th century brought significant changes. Small farms were consolidated into three large estates. Monsieur de Fénelon was lord of Rouvres in 1780. The church of Saint-Pierre in Rouvres became a distinct parish detached from Dammartin.
In the 19th century Prussian and Russian invaders ravaged Rouvres. Many inhabitants fled to the woods. Battles raged until 1815. A railway line passed through Rouvres in 1861. A railway connected Meaux and Dammartin in 1870. A new church was constructed in 1906 its inauguration a momentous occasion.
Rouvres played a role in the Battle of the Marne in 1914. Fighting took place between French and German troops. Thousands died. The poet Charles Péguy was among the casualties. The famous 600 taxis of the Marne transported hundreds of soldiers. Their journey included Dammartin Saint-Mard and Rouvres.
Today Rouvres retains its peaceful charm. It is a part of the Roissy Pays de France agglomeration. Its history is woven into its very fabric. The church of Saint-Pierre stands as a testament to its resilience. The quiet roads whisper tales of druids and battles. This is Rouvres. A place where history and tranquility coexist.