Boissy-aux-Cailles
Boissy-aux-Cailles is a small village in the Seine-et-Marne department of the Île-de-France region in France, with 276 residents as of 2021. The village is located about 36 kilometers from Melun and 21 kilometers from Fontainebleau. Boissy-aux-Cailles is part of the La Chapelle-la-Reine area and belongs to the French Gâtinais Regional Natural Park, which includes 69 villages.
Historical findings show that Boissy-aux-Cailles has been inhabited since ancient times. In 1932, an object from the Bronze Age was discovered here, indicating human presence thousands of years ago. In the 12th century, the village built Saint Martin's Church, but it was largely destroyed in the late 14th century during the Hundred Years' War.
By the late 15th century, Boissy was mostly deserted, though a local survey in 1480 mentioned a few remaining inhabitants. During this period, the area became known as the "Fief of Monbas" and passed through various noble families.
In the 18th century, the Abbey of Montmartre owned several farms in Boissy. The abbey’s nuns managed local farms, using Boissy as a retreat. After the French Revolution, these lands became national property and were sold.
In 1787, King Louis XVI required villages like Boissy to establish local councils. In 1789, with the rise of the National Assembly, Boissy formed a more formal council with a mayor, reflecting France’s shift to a modern municipality. The village economy traditionally relied on farming, with three main farms or “fiefs”—Vezu, Mainbervilliers, and Monbas—each owned by various families over the years.