La Chapelle-la-Reine

Chapelle-la-Reine is a commune in southern Seine-et-Marne, part of the Île-de-France region, and within the Gâtinais Français Regional Natural Park. Located near Melun and Fontainebleau, the commune sits on a plateau bordered by the Seine, Loing, and Essonne valleys.

Human presence in Chapelle-la-Reine dates back to the Neolithic period, as evidenced by the ancient menhir of Haute Borne and prehistoric hunting tools found in the area. A small Gallo-Roman farm existed here from the 1st to the 4th centuries, and the village was established in the early Middle Ages. It was under the control of the counts of Gâtinais and later the French king. In 1186, King Philippe-Auguste granted the village a charter, which freed residents from certain duties and provided local autonomy. Fortified in the medieval period, Chapelle-la-Reine was largely deserted during the Hundred Years' War but later resettled by farmers.

The village gained further significance in the 17th century when it became a stop on the royal road from Givet to Orléans. It became the seat of a canton in 1790, briefly renamed “La Chapelle-l’Égalité” during the French Revolution. Over the centuries, the village saw military conflicts, including Napoleon's battles with Cossacks in 1814, a near-burning by Prussians in 1870-71, and skirmishes between German and American forces during World War II.

In the 20th century, its population increased due to new housing developments, making it a residential town for Parisian workers. A local legend claims Queen Blanche of Castile built a chapel here, although historians dispute this, noting that the name “Chapelle-la-Reine” appeared earlier, in 1173.

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Website: lachapellelareine.fr