Samois-sur-Seine
Samois-sur-Seine, in the Seine-et-Marne department of Île-de-France, is a scenic village along the Seine’s left bank, near Fontainebleau Forest. It lies about 14 km from Melun and 8 km from Fontainebleau, with the Seine River and forest shaping its history and culture.
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History
The village’s history includes a leprosy hospital built in the 12th century by King Louis VII after the Crusades. The site was later converted into a forest estate. For centuries, Samois-sur-Seine has been a haven for artists, musicians, and writers, including the jazz guitarist Django Reinhardt, who lived here and inspired the famous Django Reinhardt Festival, held on Île du Berceau from 1983 to 2015.
Early inhabitants valued the protection offered by the river’s islands, such as Île aux Barbiers and Île de Thérouenne, making Samois a defensible location. Bridges across the Seine were vital for trade and travel. A Roman stone bridge, possibly built under Emperor Constance Chlorus, facilitated movement, later rebuilt in the 12th century. The Valvins Bridge, completed in 1825, has been rebuilt several times due to war and modern needs.
Prominent residents
Many prominent people are, or have been, associated with Samois-sur-Seine including,
Artists (Painters and Visual Artists)
- Albert Marquet – French Fauvist and Impressionist painter known for landscapes and seascapes.
- Armand Guillaumin – French Impressionist painter associated with Pissarro and Cézanne.
- Jules Veyrassat – French painter and engraver, known for rural scenes.
- Odilon Redon – Symbolist painter and printmaker known for dreamlike imagery.
- Paul Signac – Neo-Impressionist painter who helped develop Pointillism with Seurat.
Musicians and Composers
- Claude Debussy – Leading French composer associated with Impressionism in music.
- Django Reinhardt – Groundbreaking Romani-French jazz guitarist and composer.
- Gabriel Fauré – Renowned French composer bridging Romantic and modern eras.
- Maurice Ravel – French composer known for "Boléro" and Impressionist music.
Writers and Poets
- Elémir Bourges –Symbolist novelist, associated with the decadent literary movement.
- Hortense Dufour – French novelist and biographer.
- Patricia Highsmith – American writer known for psychological thrillers (e.g., The Talented Mr. Ripley).
- Stéphane Mallarmé – Influential French Symbolist poet; his house is now a museum.
- Victor & Paul Margueritte (the Margueritte brothers) – French novelists, known for their collaborative and individual literary works.
Scientists and Intellectuals
- Alfred Binet – French psychologist who developed the first practical IQ test and studied child psychology.
Legal and Political Figures
- Fernand Labori – French lawyer famous for defending Alfred Dreyfus during the Dreyfus Affair.
- Nicolas Fouquet – 17th-century Superintendent of Finances under Louis XIV, known for his downfall and connection to Château de Vaux-le-Vicomte.
- Prince Nicolas Orloff – Russian aristocrat and diplomat; connected by marriage to Prince Troubetzkoy.
Today, Samois includes the picturesque Haut-Samois village center, Bas-Samois along the Seine, and nearby hamlets like Les Plâtreries. The historic port supported local trade, sending wood and sandstone to Paris. Samois-sur-Seine, with its heritage and vibrant arts community, remains a cherished place in Île-de-France.