Montfort-l'Amaury

Commune in Île-de-France, France

Montfort-l'Amaury (French pronunciation: [mɔ̃fɔʁ lamoʁi]) is a commune in the Yvelines department in the Île-de-France region, Northern France. It is located 20 km (12 mi) north of Rambouillet. The name comes from Amaury I de Montfort, the first seigneur (lord) 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.

Population

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

• Ruins of the castle 48°46′36″N 1°48′16″E / 48.77667°N 1.80444°E / 48.77667; 1.80444
• Maison de Maurice Ravel, which is now a museum. Maurice Ravel lived here from 1921 until his death.^[4]
• Château de Groussay, built in the 19th century

People

• Jean Anouilh, dramatist
• Colette Darfeuil, actress
• Henri George Doll, scientist
• Pierre Dupuis (1610–1682), painter
• Jean Monnet, architect of European Unity
• Simon de Montfort, 6th Earl of Leicester (born in the castle, 1208)
• Maurice Ravel, composer
• Charles Aznavour, singer
• Ambroise Roux (1921-1999), CEO of Compagnie générale d'électricité (later known as Alcatel) from 1970 to 1981, lived and died in Montfort-l'Amaury.^[5]
• Omar Sy, actor
• Denis Christophel, painter

Twin towns

• Nickenich, Germany

See also

• Communes of the Yvelines department

References

1. "Répertoire national des élus: les maires" (in French). data.gouv.fr, Plateforme ouverte des données publiques françaises. 4 May 2022.
2. "Populations légales 2021" (in French). The National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies. 28 December 2023.
3. Population en historique depuis 1968, INSEE
4. La maison-musée Maurice Ravel, Ville de Montfort-l’Amaury.
5. "Obituary: Ambroise Roux". The Independent. 9 April 1999. Retrieved 16 April 2017.

External links

• Official website
• Pictures of Castle Montfort l'Amaury
• Photos by Amaury Laporte, free to use for non commercial purposes
• Information about Montfort l'Amaury