Champagne-sur-Seine
Champagne-sur-Seine is a commune on the right bank of the Seine, about 10 km from the southern edge of the Brie plateau. Historically, it was a quiet rural village, mainly home to market gardeners and vine growers. However, in 1902, a major shift occurred when the Schneider company established an electrical manufacturing plant there to support the Paris Métro system. The location was strategic, close to the Seine and the Paris-Lyon-Marseille railway line. Social tensions in Creusot, Schneider’s original site, also influenced the move, as labor strikes had led to significant restructuring, and relocating skilled workers helped Schneider avoid further conflict.
In 1906, Schneider relocated 256 families, totaling 649 Creusot residents. This migration increased the population from 600 in 1903 to 2,000 by 1911 and 3,200 by 1926. Russian workers, escaping post-revolutionary turmoil, joined the workforce, even establishing an Orthodox chapel by 1939. To accommodate the workers, Schneider created a large residential area, including 269 apartments in 16 buildings by architect Edmond Delaire. Additional single-family homes and duplexes were also built nearby.
Supporting facilities included 44 shops, three schools, a cooperative, and a professional school. By the 1930s, the community also had a stadium and garden plots for workers. After WWII, the factory saw renewed demand before eventually closing in the early 1990s.