Obsonville
Obsonville is a small town in the Seine-et-Marne department, about 45 km from Melun, 29 km from Fontainebleau, and 13 km from Nemours. It’s part of the Puiseaux area and is located close to the Gâtinais plateau, which is known for its expansive farmland, stretching toward the Beauce region. This flat landscape is bordered by the Fontainebleau forest and the Loing valley.
Historically, Obsonville was part of the lordship of Nemours. Around 1205, it was passed to Orson II, who became known as Orson d'Obsonville, and then to his sister Marguerite. Over time, the property changed hands through several noble families. In the 1500s, records show that the people of Obsonville were under the lordship of Héricourt. The community was once part of the Gâtinais archdeaconry until the late 1700s, at which time it had a population of about 90.
The village’s layout is compact and circular, suggesting it may have originated as a fortified site with a castle, ditches, and a wall for defense. Today, no fortifications remain, and the area is largely agricultural. The village’s highest point is 116 meters, providing sweeping views of the surrounding plains, with the lowest point at 105 meters.
Obsonville has long been peaceful, and its development reflects the secure agricultural life typical of French royal lands in the Middle Ages, unlike regions closer to conflicts.