Montfort-l'Amaury

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.

Montfort-l'Amaury
Commune
Town hall
Coat of arms
Location of Montfort-l'Amaury
Montfort-l'Amaury Show map of France Montfort-l'Amaury Show map of Île-de-France (region)
Coordinates: 48°46′40″N 1°48′36″E
Country	France
Region	Île-de-France
Department	Yvelines
Arrondissement	Rambouillet
Canton	Aubergenville
Intercommunality	CC Cœur d'Yvelines
Government
• Mayor (2020–2026)	Hervé Planchenault[1]
Area 1	5.71 km2 (2.20 sq mi)
Population  (2022)[2]	2,790
• Density	490/km2 (1,300/sq mi)
Demonym	Montfortois
Time zone	UTC+01:00 (CET)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+02:00 (CEST)
INSEE/Postal code	78420 /78490
Elevation	98–183 m (322–600 ft)
Website	www.montfortlamaury.fr
1 French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km2 (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries.

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

Historical population

Year	Pop.	±% p.a.
1968	2,074	—
1975	2,319	+1.61%
1982	2,566	+1.46%
1990	2,651	+0.41%
1999	3,137	+1.89%
2007	3,088	−0.20%
2012	3,073	−0.10%
2017	2,940	−0.88%
Source: INSEE[3]

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
• 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