Imagine traveling just 30 minutes east of Paris. You find yourself in Seine-et-Marne. It is the largest department in the Île-de-France region. Seine-et-Marne is named after the Seine and Marne rivers. These rivers wind gently through its landscape.
Seine-et-Marne is a place where history and nature meet. It covers an area of 5915 square kilometers. That is about 2284 square miles. In 2019 the population was over 1.4 million.
Seine-et-Marne is one of the original 83 departments. They were created during the French Revolution in 1790. It used to be part of the province of Île-de-France. Seine-et-Marne is the only original department that has not changed.
The department borders other areas. These include Val-d’Oise, Seine-Saint-Denis and Val-de-Marne to the west. To the south are Essonne, Loiret and Yonne. Aube and Marne lie to the east. Aisne and Oise are to the north.
Melun is the prefecture of Seine-et-Marne. Fontainebleau, Meaux, Provins and Torcy are its subprefectures. Charles de Gaulle Airport is partly within its boundaries.
Seine-et-Marne has a temperate Atlantic climate. The average rainfall is about 650 mm per year. The average temperature in Melun is 3.2 degrees Celsius in January. In July it is 18.6 degrees Celsius.
Originally Seine-et-Marne was rural and sparsely populated. Over the past 50 years the population has tripled. This is due to the growth of Paris and new towns.
Sixty percent of Seine-et-Marne is farmland. It is the main agricultural area in Île-de-France. Cereals and sugar beets are major exports.
Tourism is important here. Disneyland Park and Walt Disney Studios Park are major attractions. These parks are located at Disneyland Paris.
There are many châteaux in Seine-et-Marne. The Palace of Fontainebleau was once a royal hunting lodge. Later it became a home for French kings. Château de Vaux-le-Vicomte is another dazzling castle. Nicolas Fouquet built it. He was Louis XIV’s finance minister.
Meaux is the largest city in Seine-et-Marne. It is known for its Roman Catholic cathedral. The city also has ancient Gallo-Roman ramparts. Provins was a vital trading hub in the Middle Ages. Its ramparts and fortified gates still stand.
Seine-et-Marne is filled with picturesque villages. Barbizon was a haven for painters. Jean-François Millet and Théodore Rousseau lived here. They inspired the Impressionist movement.
The French art of eating well thrives in Seine-et-Marne. The region offers local produce. This includes baguette de tradition and Brie de Meaux cheese. The cheese has been famous for centuries. Henry IV enjoyed Brie de Meaux on his toast.
Seine-et-Marne offers a blend of history, nature and culture. It is a peaceful escape near Paris. From royal palaces to medieval towns. From artist villages to rich farmlands. Seine-et-Marne offers something for everyone.