Par Poudou99 — Travail personnel, CC BY 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=11248654

Avon

October 19, 2024 Avon

Avon is a commune located in the Seine-et-Marne department of the Île-de-France region, about 17.5 km from Melun and just 2.4 km from Fontainebleau. It forms a single urban area with Fontainebleau and is part of its economic basin. Avon is first mentioned as a parish in a charter from 839 AD.

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History

Historically, Avon and Fontainebleau have been interconnected, with recent archaeological discoveries revealing a Gaulish village dating back to 250-30 BC beneath the Château grounds. The Avon-Fontainebleau train station opened in 1846, and a steam tram operated between the station and the château from 1885 to 1890, later replaced by a tramway until 1953.

During World War II, Avon’s mayor, Rémy Dumoncel, and several residents were arrested for their resistance activities, ultimately perishing in deportation. Significant landmarks include the 11th-century Saint-Pierre Church, the Basses-Loges Priory, and the Carmelite convent, which housed a small seminary and later became a spiritual center.

Prominent figures associated with Avon include Père Jacques de Jésus, who helped hide Jewish children during the war, and several local resistance members honored as "Righteous Among the Nations". The town's rich history and heritage are commemorated in various ways, including streets named after these heroes.

It is also the final resting place of Katherine Mansfield.