Le Mée-sur-Seine (, literally ''Le Mée on Seine'') is a

commune A commune is an alternative term for an intentional community. Commune or comună or comune or other derivations may also refer to: Administrative-territorial entities * Commune (administrative division), a municipality or township ** Communes of ...

in the

Seine-et-Marne Seine-et-Marne () is a department in the Île-de-France region in Northern France. Named after the rivers Seine and Marne, it is the region's largest department with an area of 5,915 square kilometres (2,284 square miles); it roughly covers its ...

department in the

Île-de-France The Île-de-France (, ; literally "Isle of France") is the most populous of the eighteen regions of France. Centred on the capital Paris, it is located in the north-central part of the country and often called the ''Région parisienne'' (; en, Pa ...

region In geography, regions, otherwise referred to as zones, lands or territories, are areas that are broadly divided by physical characteristics ( physical geography), human impact characteristics ( human geography), and the interaction of humanity an ...

in north-central

France France (), officially the French Republic ( ), is a country primarily located in Western Europe. It also comprises of overseas regions and territories in the Americas and the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian Oceans. Its metropolitan area ...

, next to

Melun Melun () is a commune in the Seine-et-Marne department in the Île-de-France region, north-central France. It is located on the southeastern outskirts of Paris, about from the centre of the capital. Melun is the prefecture of the Seine-et-Ma ...

. It is located in the south-eastern suburbs of

Paris Paris () is the Capital city, capital and List of communes in France with over 20,000 inhabitants, most populous city of France, with an estimated population of 2,165,423 residents in 2019 in an area of more than 105 km² (41 sq mi), ma ...

from the

center Center or centre may refer to: Mathematics *Center (geometry), the middle of an object * Center (algebra), used in various contexts ** Center (group theory) ** Center (ring theory) * Graph center, the set of all vertices of minimum eccentrici ...

Geography

The town is located on the right side of the Seine on a limestone plateau.

History

* B.C.: the Sénons (Gaul tribe) may have lived here. * 13th century: Le Mée-sur-Seine is mentioned for the first time by "Mas" in 1253. "Mas" is an old French term for farm. * 15th century: castle of "Marchémarais" * September, 30th, 1833: birth of

Henri Chapu Henri-Michel-Antoine Chapu (29 September 1833 – 21 April 1891) was a French sculptor in a modified Neoclassical tradition who was known for his use of allegory in his work. Life and career Born in Le Mée-sur-Seine into modest circumstances, ...

, a famous sculptor. * 1889: construction of the "Église Notre-Dame-de-la-Nativité". * 1845: first railway. * 1938: Originally called simply "Le Mée", the name of the commune became officially "Le Mée-sur-Seine" (meaning "Le Mée upon Seine") * 1944: Liberation of the town by allied troops who crossed the Seine using a float-bridge (the only bridge had been destroyed by the Germans). * 1970-1971: construction of the main road to

(''la pénétrante''). * 1979: opening of the new rail station. The town grew quickly after World War II, and it is now divided in four districts: Le Mée Village, Plein Ciel, Croix Blanche, Les Courtilleraies.

Demographics

Inhabitants are called ''Méens''.

Education

There are 11 infant schools, 8 garde schools, 2 secondary schools and 1 high school.

Culture

* "Le Mas": library and auditorium. * "Espace Cordier": Youth House for Culture.

Religions

* "Église Notre-Dame-de-la-Nativité" ("Village" District), built from 1889 to 1893, is on the location of the previous church (built in 1771). * chapel "Sainte-Croix" ("Croix-Blanche" District)

Economy

* Unemployment rate (1999): 12.8% * Private income (2004): €15,136/year

Transport

Le Mée-sur-Seine is served by Le Mée-sur-Seine station on Paris RER line , approximately 45 minutes from the centre of Paris. Local bus network: Bus TRAM: lines B, F, J, J1, M.

People

* Jacques Philippe Avice (1759–1835), general, and also tile maker around 1820.Michel Dauvergne et François Lethève, ''Le Mée-sur-Seine et son histoire'', Ville du Mée-sur-Seine, 1994, p. 101 *

François-Joseph Talma François Joseph Talma (15 January 1763 – 19 October 1826) was a French actor. Life He was born in Paris. His father, a dentist, moved to London, and saw that his son received a good English education. François Joseph returned to Paris, whe ...

(1763–1826), actor, he was also co-owner of the tile manufactory. * Mademoiselle Mars (1779–1847), actress, she was also co-owner of the tile manufactory. * Charles-Tristan de Montholon (1782–1853), general and politician, he was also co-owner of the tile manufactory. * Grégoire Ghyka (see

Grigore Alexandru Ghica Grigore Alexandru Ghica or Ghika (1803 or 1807 – 24 August 1857) was a Prince of Moldavia between 14 October 1849, and June 1853, and again between 30 October 1854, and 3 June 1856. His wife was Helena, a member of the Sturdza family and dau ...

(1807–1857), prince of Moldavia (1849–1853 and 1854–1856) lived in "Le Mée," where he committed suicide on August 24, 1857. His wife and five other relatives are interred close to him in a memorial in the cemetery of the town. Close to this memorial, four other members of the Ghyka family repose (among whom Nicolas Jean Ghika (1849–1873), killed during a duel at Fontainebleau). *

, famous sculptor, was born in "Le Mée" in September, 30th, 1833. He was interred on April 24, 1891. * Firmin-Girard (1838–1921), painter. He has been interred close to Henri Chapu. * Henri-Auguste Patey (1855–1930), sculptor, student of

. * Gaston Carraud (1864–1920), songwriter, student of Jules Massenet, was born in "Le Mée" in July, 20th, 1864. *

Renée Saint-Cyr Renée Saint-Cyr (; 16 November 1904 – 11 July 2004) was a French actress. She appeared in more than 60 films between 1933 and 1994. She was the mother of Georges Lautner, who also achieved fame in the film business, albeit as a director. ...

(1904–2004), actress, lived in a big 18th century house in "Le Mée".Michel Dauvergne et François Lethève, ''Le Mée-sur-Seine et son histoire'', Ville du Mée-sur-Seine, 1994, p. 220-221 *

Karl Lagerfeld Karl Otto Lagerfeld (; 10 September 1933 – 19 February 2019) was a German fashion designer, creative director, artist and photographer. He was known as the creative director of the French fashion house Chanel, a position held from 1983 ...

(1933-2019), designer, owned a big house in the "Village" District. * Caroline de Monaco (1957-) and Ernest-Auguste de Hanovre (1954-) own the house previously occupied by

. *

Nina Roberts Nina Roberts is a French porn star, actress, author and contemporary artist (video and photo). Biography Roberts grew up in Créteil, near Paris. A single mother at the age of twenty, she answered an ad to appear in a porn film in order to raise ...

(1979-) ex-porn star * Willy Denzey (1982-) singer for teenagers.