Montfort-l'Amaury

Montfort-l'Amaury

Town hall

Coat of arms
Montfort-l'Amaury

Coordinates: 48°46′40″N 1°48′36″E / 48.7778°N 1.81°E / 48.7778; 1.81Coordinates: 48°46′40″N 1°48′36″E / 48.7778°N 1.81°E / 48.7778; 1.81
Country France
Region Île-de-France
Department Yvelines
Arrondissement Rambouillet
Canton Montfort-l'Amaury
Government
 • Mayor (2008–14) Hervé Planchenault
Area1 5.71 km2 (2.20 sq mi)
Population (2006)2 33,135
 • Density 5,800/km2 (15,000/sq mi)
Time zone CET (UTC+1)
 • Summer (DST) CEST (UTC+2)
INSEE/Postal code 78420 / 78490
Elevation 98–183 m (322–600 ft)

1 French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km² (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries.

2 Population without double counting: residents of multiple communes (e.g., students and military personnel) only counted once.

Montfort-l'Amaury is a commune in the Yvelines department in the Île-de-France region in north-central France. It is located in the south-western suburbs of Paris 20 km (12 mi) north of Rambouillet. The name comes from Amaury I de Montfort, the first count of Montfort.

Geography

Montfort-l'Amaury lies north of the Rambouillet Forest. It is located at the foot of low hills, at about 130 m above sea level.

History

King Robert II built a castle in 996 in the hills of Montfort. Montfort-l'Amaury was the stronghold of the Montfort family from the start of the 11th century. Amaury I built the ramparts.

The Comté de Montfort was related to the Duchy of Brittany following the marriage of Yolande de Dreux-Montfort with Arthur of Brittany in 1294. It returned to the crown of France when Brittany became a part of France under Francis I. The castle was destroyed by the English during the Hundred Years' War.

Sites of interest

The ruins of the donjon, above the house of Maurice Ravel
Maurice Ravel's house in Montfort-l'Amaury, where the composer lived from 1921 until his death

People

Twin towns

See also

References

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