“Who was Saint Pathus?” I ask. The history of Saint-Pathus begins with the story of its name. It comes from a priest of virtuous life. He was appointed bishop of Meaux in 684. He died on the day of his election. The task seemed too heavy. He did not want this honor.
Originally from Senlis, this priest was traveling to Meaux. He took the road that Queen Brunehaut had just built. He prayed to God to remove the mitre from his head. His prayers were answered. He died en route blessing the city of Meaux. The city had elected him.
Sire Guillaume des Barres was lord of the region. He had a church built where Pathus died in 1102. He placed it under the saint’s patronage. The village formed around the sacred site. It later took the name of the saint. It became Saint-Pathus.
Saint-Pathus is also known for its church. The Saint-Pathus church is famous. It is known for its simplicity and austerity. It is considered one of the jewels of Seine-et-Marne. The Saint-Pathus church was mainly built in the Romanesque style. It is Bourgogne Cistercian style. This is rare in Île-de-France. Unfortunately, it was partly restored in the Neo-Gothic style in 1872. This detracts from its originality. However, you will see many representations of the saint on the building. You will also see them inside. Look for statues and stained-glass windows of Saint Pathus.
Saint-Pathus is a commune in north-central France. It is in the Seine-et-Marne department. This is in the Île-de-France region. Saint-Pathus is next to Oissery. In 1974, Turkish Airlines Flight 981 crashed near here. Six passengers were ejected. They landed near Saint-Pathus.
The inhabitants of Saint-Pathus are called Saint-Pathusiens. In 2022, the population was 6478. The area is 5.36 square kilometers. The mayor of Saint-Pathus is Jean-Benoît Pinturier. He was elected in 2020. His term ends in 2026.
There once was a Shopi supermarket in Saint-Pathus. It closed in 2008. In its place, a health center opened in October. The town bought the building for 500,000 euros. It renovated the space. The renovation cost 600,000 euros. It is a big owner in the co-ownership now. The town can do work on the parking lot. It can install video surveillance.
If you’re visiting, Saint-Pathus is accessible by bus. Bus lines 2104 and ST-PATHUS stop here. The closest bus stop is Maisonneuve. It is a two-minute walk away. So now you know a little more about the village named after a saint. A priest who never wanted to be a bishop.