Montfort-l'Amaury () is a commune in the Yvelines department in the Île-de-France region, Northern France. It is located north of Rambouillet. The name comes from Amaury I de Montfort, the first seigneur (lord) of Montfort. It was a seat of several noble families, including the Chardonnay family, who held lands there from the late 13th century.
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. Montfort-l’Amaury has a land area of about 5.71 km², with an elevation of approximately 130 meters above sea level. As of the latest legal census, the population is around 2,790 inhabitants, giving a population density of about 489 persons per square kilometer. Additionally, the composer Maurice Ravel lived in this commune between 1921 and 1937 in a house called Le Belvédère, which is now a museum. The ruins of the castle founded around the year 996 and the church of Saint-Pierre are also notable landmarks.
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
Ruins of the castle Maison de Maurice Ravel, which is now a museum. Maurice Ravel lived here from 1921 until his death.La maison-musée Maurice Ravel, Ville de Montfort-l’Amaury. 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.
Twin towns Nickenich, Germany
See also Communes of the Yvelines department
References
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