Verrières-le-Buisson
The fascinating history of Verrières-le-Buisson can be traced back over one thousand years from the reign of Charlemagne.
The "Villa Vedrarias", was given by Childebert I in 543 to the Abbey of Saint-Germain-des-Prés. It is the first written mention of Verrières. The current name appears during the XVIth century.
Under the reign of Louis XIV, who enjoyed hunting in the Verrières forest, the term "Le Buisson" was added. This is reflected in the coat of arms, which bears an oak, along with the arms of Saint-Germain. External ornaments include two beavers (bievers in Old French) symbolizing the Bièvre River.
Verrières was originally aligned with the parish of the Abbey of Saint-Germain. This changed at the end of the 12th century, with the building of the parish church Notre-Dame de l'Assomption ( Our Lady of the Ascension). Village life was strictly controlled by the monks, however, until 1248, when Thomas de Mauléon, the Abbot of St Germain granted some freedoms in return for payment of a large tribute.
Always a small village, Verrières survived the Hundred Years war in the 14th and 15th centruy, the Religious Wars of the 16th Century and the French Revolution of 1789. The neighbouring village of Amblainvilliers fares worse, and the castle there is destroyed in 1796.
By 1801 the population had risen only to 1071, and by 1873 had barely changed. However, in the last quarter of the 18th century the influence of the Vilmorin-Andrieux company (then a plant breeder, now a major world-wide seed producer) the population rose to around 1500.
The expansion of the Parisian suburbs early in the 20th century had little effect on the village, which remained largely agricultural. Although some land around the village was sold, by 1939 the population was still only 3000.
The second half of the 20th century saw more change in Verrières than during the previous millenium. Urbanisation started in earnest in 1954, and in 1965 the Vilmorin-Andrieux comapny sold 100 hectares of agricultural land, leading to the development of the eastern side of the town. By 1999 the population had reached 15923.
For a fuller history of Verrières you can download the complete history (in French) by Michel Collona
Today, Verrières is a picturesque, mainly residential town situated some 12 miles south-west of the heart of Paris in the Vallée de la Bièvre. Despite it's proximity to Paris, it is almost surrounded by forest - the Bois de Verrieres - that offers a host of recreational activities. The town is blessed with many parks and gardens, a lake and a thirteenth century church: Notre Dame de l'Assomption.
A number of chateaux and other interesting tourist sites in the vicinity of Verrières can be reached by bus, car or train. Verrières has been twinned with Hövelhof in Germany since 1971.
Visit the Verrières Mairie (town council) web site at http://www.mairie-verrieres-91.fr/accueil/