Seine et Marne © Sortir à Paris
The Seine-et-Marne department is named after the Seine and Marne rivers, which flow through it. It is located East of Paris and it is the largest department in Ile de France. It is home to Disneyland Paris, the most visited theme park in Europe with 10 to 12 million visitors every year.
Fontainebleau
The first step of the Olympic torch relay in Seine-et-Marne is at one of the most significant historical sites in France. The Château de Fontainebleau has been a royal residence for eight centuries. It is a UNESCO World Heritage site, showcasing Renaissance and classical architecture.
Fontainebleau Castle © Visit Paris Region
The château was a favorite residence of French monarchs, including Francis I, Henry IV, Louis XIV, and Napoleon Bonaparte. The château houses the Napoleon I Museum, which displays artifacts related to his life and reign.
Fontainebleau Forest © Fontainebleau Tourisme
Covering an area of 280km2 (108mi2), the Forest of Fontainebleau is a major natural attraction. It offers diverse landscapes, including rock formations, dense woodlands, and open heathland. The forest is popular for outdoor activities such as hiking, rock climbing, and bird watching.
Provins
Provins’ medieval architecture and urban layout earned it a place on the UNESCO World Heritage list in 2001. The designation highlights its importance as an outstanding example of a medieval trading town. Indeed, Provins was a major center for trade fairs during the Middle Ages. These fairs attracted merchants from all over Europe and contributed significantly to the town's prosperity.
The town is surrounded by impressive medieval walls, originally built in the 12th and 13th centuries. These fortifications include gates, and ramparts, offering a glimpse into the town’s defensive structures. The Tour César, standing in the middle of the town, served as watchtower, prison, and bell tower. The Tithe Barn, a 13th-century structure, was used to store tithes (taxes paid in goods). Today, it houses a museum showcasing the history of the medieval fairs and trade in Provins.
César Tower © Lucie Vallée
Nowadays, Provins hosts numerous medieval-themed events, including jousting tournaments and falconry displays, providing an immersive experience of medieval life.
Meaux
Meaux is another historical town in the department. It is famous for its diverse architecture : the Saint-Etienne cathedral is a Gothic cathedral, which was completed in the 16th century ; the Meaux train station, an architectural gem from the early 20th century, is an example of Art Nouveau design ; while the historic center is characterized by narrow streets, half-timbered houses, and medieval architecture.
Meaux © Ville de Meaux
The town is world-renowned for its Brie cheese, often referred to as the "King of Cheeses." It celebrates this culinary heritage with the Fête de la Brie, featuring tastings, competitions, and local food markets.
The Musée de la Grande Guerre du Pays de Meaux, Europe’s largest museum dedicated to World War I, is located in Meaux. It offers an immersive experience, with a collection of nearly 70,000 items and documents telling the daily lives of soldiers and civilians, including artifacts, uniforms, weapons, and vehicles.
Sport Facts
The Olympic torch relay is set to go through the Vaires-sur-Marne Nautical Stadium, which will host the Olympic and Paralympic rowing and canoeing competitions. This major project was delivered in 2019, and it is now an international center of excellence for sport. Together with Beijing and Sydney, it is one of only three venues in the world capable of staging canoeing and rowing events for both the Olympic and Paralympic games.
Fontainebleau is the birthplace of Olympic marathon runner Florian Carvalho. He is also part of the Pays de Fontainebleau Athletics club.
Vaires-sur-Marne Nautical Stadium © Paris 2024 / Florian Carvalho © Actu