“Vale of the Oise.” Does that not sound like a fairy tale setting? Welcome to Val-d’Oise a department in the Île-de-France region. It is Northern France’s treasure. Created in 1968 Val-d’Oise emerged from the split of the Seine-et-Oise department.
Val-d’Oise derives its name from the Oise River. This river gracefully crosses the region. It begins its journey in Belgium. Then it flows through Northeastern France.
In 2019 Val-d’Oise was home to 1249674 people. Its INSEE and postcode number is 95. The French National Assembly created the original departments of France in 1790. They sought to divide the country into 83 departments. Each would have roughly the same size and population.
Val-d’Oise is north-central France. It is part of the Île-de-France region. Hauts-de-Seine lies to the south. Yvelines is to the southwest. Eure sits to the west. Oise is to the north. Seine-et-Marne stretches to the east. Seine-Saint-Denis is to the southeast.
Pontoise is the official préfecture of Val-d’Oise. It is a commune in the suburbs of Paris. It is about 28 kilometers northwest of the city center. However the préfecture building is in Cergy. The River Oise flows through Val-d’Oise. It moves from northeast to southwest.
The eastern part of Val-d’Oise is part of the Pays de France. This is a fertile plain. It is traditionally used for agriculture. Cereals and sugar beets thrive here. Part of Charles de Gaulle Airport is in this eastern region. Other parts are in Seine-et-Marne and Seine-Saint-Denis.
The southernmost region of Val-d’Oise is part of the Seine Valley. It includes the Vallée de Montmorency. These areas are heavily urbanized. The Chaussée Jules César passes through here. This ancient Roman road linked Paris and Rouen.
The western part of Val-d’Oise is part of the Vexin français. It is a verdant agricultural plateau. Pontoise was its capital. Today it combines with Cergy to form Cergy-Pontoise. One fifth of Val-d’Oise is covered with trees.
Val-d’Oise’s economy relies on agriculture and urban centers. The northern eastern and western parts are fertile. They produce corn sugar beet and other crops. The southern urban parts are dormitory towns. Residents commute to Paris for work. Charles de Gaulle Airport provides rail access to all parts of France.
Val-d’Oise has a rich heritage. Yet it remains often unvisited by tourists. It is overshadowed by Paris. La Roche-Guyon features a castle on a rocky hill. L’Isle-Adam is a historic town on the Oise River. Auvers-sur-Oise is famous for its landscapes. Impressionist painters immortalized them.
Enghien-les-Bains is a spa resort. It has a hot sulphurous spring. Écouen boasts a fine château. It houses the Museum of the Renaissance. Cergy-Pontoise is the new administrative capital. Royaumont Abbey was founded by St. Louis in the thirteenth century.
Argenteuil is a sub-prefecture. It is the second most populous of Paris’ suburbs. It sits in a scenic location by the Seine. Claude Monet and others painted it often. Val-d’Oise awaits your discovery. Its history nature and art offer unique experiences.