Gennevilliers is a common of approximately 43.000 inhabitants of the department of the Hauts-de-Seine (92), in the north-western suburbs of Paris. Located in a loop of the the Seine, it is the site of most important the river port of the Paris region.
Etymology
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Either of Villare Gene , house of a man frankly named Gene, or of Gene , deterioration of Genevieve, sponsors Asnières-sur-Seine on which Gennevilliers depended.
History
One found in Gennevilliers of the vestiges of Neolithic habitat then coins Gaulois are, Roman, mérovingiennes, etc, proving an old and continuous settlement.
The the Seine played through the centuries a crucial role in the development of Gennevilliers and its hamlet Villeneuve-the-Garenne, today a commune with share. True Peninsula surrounded by Dam S since always protecting inhabitants and cultures from raw from the river, it was however devastated by the Inondation S of 1740 and 1910. At the time of the believed of 1910 the dams are completely submerged and the repression of sewages contributes to make the catastrophe even more violent. The damage is gigantic on the whole of the commune of Gennevilliers. More than 1.000 houses are reached, 150 are evacuated and 13 completion collapsed.
Ground of Agriculture, of breeding, fishing and Hunting, Gennevilliers is attached to the Abbaye Saint-Denis of the Moyen-âge until the Révolution. The city had to suffer from the invasions Normans of the 9th century, and later, of the combat of the Guerre One hundred Year old. In 1248, Guillaume de Marcouris, abbot of Denis Saint, freed serfs from the villages located in Garenne, of which Gennevilliers. The new arrivals will be free with the help of the sum of 1.700 pounds paid with the abbey. Gennevilliers was also a dependence of Asnières until in 1302, when it was set up in Paroisse.
Although the city is located at 5 kilometers only center of Paris, its situation in the loop of the Seine held the " a long time; presqu'île" of Gennevilliers to the variation of the large currents of the history (and passage) with however some notable facts:
In 1746, the marshal of Richelieu made build by Servandoni a Château, surrounded by a park with manufactures S, where it accepted Marie Leczinska, Louis XV and Madam de Pompadour which practiced hunting in the Garenne S and the giboyeux wood of Gennevilliers. It is in this castle that was created the September 26th 1783 the Marriage of Barber of Beaumarchais.
Before the Révolution 4 great landowners out of 18 live Gennevilliers. They share more half of the cultivable grounds of the commune is 550 hectares. The royal House of Saint-Cyr military school and the abbey of Saint-Denis have of them 165 hectares, 30 hectares belong to the parish. The 310 small holders share 504 hectares is a little more than one hectare each one.
At the end of the 19th century, many Impressionnistes (Cézanne, Monet, Berthe Morisot, Renoir, Alfred Sisley and Van Gogh inter alia) attended Gennevilliers where lived the family Manet and the painter Gustave Caillebotte and they painted many paintings there.
The industrial development of Gennevilliers will take its rise only tardily, at the beginning of the 20th century. The railway service road, produced in 1909, as well as the tram, involved the construction of factories in a a little chaotic way. Important companies, in particular related to the Automobile , settled there and the commune with its surroundings also accommodated many ragmen and scrap merchants. Of country village dominated by some landowners, Gennevilliers became, between the two wars, populeuse and working.
During the Second world war, Gennevilliers underwent ten bombardments. Those which caused the most damage are those of the May 30th 1942 and of the June 22nd 1944 during which many factories were damaged (Chenard, Gnôme and the Rhone etc, but also much of houses (69 buildings and more than 250 real files deposited in October 1944). 3.000 disaster victims are counted. These people, sometimes without work is in a critical situation. They are forced to settle in summary construction industries, out of wood or sheets. The universe of the Bidonvilles invades little by little the waste grounds, conferring an aspect of misery on several districts of the city. These small islands will be, later, shaven to make place, amongst other things, at the shopping mall and administrative.
Since this “industrial revolution” gennevilloise and especially since the post-war period, a new population coming from all the areas of France and from the majority of the countries of Europe and North Africa settled in Gennevilliers. It was the case of the family of Isabelle Adjani for example. This massive impulse families and workers for the very modest majority of origin unfortunately resulted in the appearance of Bidonvilles and unsanitary housings which since regressed but did not disappear. The Industrialization of the commune, construction many HLM like the city of the Lute or the development of infrastructure like the highway exchanger, ended up melting Gennevilliers in urban fabric of the Parisian Banlieue in the years 1970-80. More recently, new a " center administratif" (town hall and others) geographically more central in the commune appeared and some parts of the city were modernized.
So today, Gennevilliers is a center Industriel and important Logistique of the area, the city remains however more known in France to shelter the refuge of the protective Société of the animals (SPA), the largest animalist refuge of Europe.
Geography
The plain of the peninsula of Gennevilliers is a sandy plain and punt.
Sand pits
The sand pits are numerous on the territory of Gennevilliers As the careers were exploited, one embanked the parts which had already been excavated. The tipcarts drawn by horses, poured rubble which came sometimes by far, of Paris but also of very distant suburbs.There was one located at the end of current the Parc of Sévines whose entry was with the angle of the street of Caboeufs and the avenue Laurent Cély, one at the end of the avenue of Grésillons, to the 195 (Rossignol careers), another avenue of the bridge of Saint-Ouen (Couton careers)…
Districts
The town of Gennevilliers does not have true downtown area. A project is in hand and work should begin soon in order to make district of the Town hall the downtown area (esplanade, trade…).The city is divided into several districts:
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the village (old Gennevilliers) which corresponds to the village of origin around its church. One can see the old town hall of Gennevilliers there. The tram should serve the district in a few years.
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the Lute is a district located at the North of the city and which corresponds to the massive urbanization of the city in years 1950/1970. It is currently in full reorganization. It is known to be one of the most sensitive cities of France. It was the subject of documentary Luth by Channel + in 1989. The grandmother of Ramzy Bédia of Eric and Ramzy lives with the Lute.
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the Garden city (1923 - 1934): she belongs to about fifteen garden cities built in the inter-war period by Office HBM the the Seine, directed then by Henri Sellier. 237 individual houses and 186 residences in buildings are conceived by the architects Ernest-Michel Ebrard and Felix Dumail. It is one of the most pleasant districts of Gennevilliers.
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the ditch of alms .
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Agnettes is a district which knew a full expansion in years 1960/1970. One finds there in particular the town hall (imposing tower of 18 stages!), the central library, the village hall and the shopping mall.
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Grésillons and Chandon Brenu . Grésillons is a district bordering with the district on Asnières-sur-Seine which bears the same name. It is a district in full revival, like its Chandon-Brenu neighbor. The old factories leave the place with modern constructions and human size. One finds there in particular the Galileo college and the swimming pool.
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Small Gennevilliers : this district was located the bridge of Argenteuil and the bridge of Colombes. During the Second Empire, beautiful villas are built, as well as building sites naval, on this bank then called quay of Argenteuil, because just located opposite Argenteuil. The arrival of the railroad in 1851, makes it possible Parisian to come to benefit from the joys from the countryside and canoeing because has this place the the Seine is deep and broad. Restaurants, guinguettes, merchants of convivial wine and others lieus are established along the banks of the the Seine. The believed of 1910 does not save the Petit Gennevilliers ; The dam is completely submerged and the repression of sewages contributes to make the catastrophe even more violent. The damage is gigantic on the whole of the commune of Gennevilliers. More than 1.000 houses are reached, 150 are evacuated and 13 completion collapsed.
It should be noted that the 2/3 of communal space are occupied by the industrial park and the Port of Gennevilliers.
Demography
Source INSEE.
Industrial history
- In 1881 Gustave Caillebotte, buys a piece in Small Gennevilliers (this district was located between the bridges of Argenteuil and the bridge of Colombes). It buys other pieces and launches out in naval construction (shipyard “Luce”). After its death in 1894, the sector quickly becomes industrial. Towards 1887, a factory of mechanical engineering is created by Eugene Monceau, Frederic Gaillardet. Louis Seguin (death in 1918, young engineer buys this factory in 1896 and develops the engine with Gnom oil of or is born the company from the Gnôme engines creates in 1905. Since this date the factory `' the Gnome'' does not cease increasing thanks to exchanges or acquisitions land, in 1910 the territory of Gustave Caillebotte is included by the factory which reaches a surface of approximately 10.000 m2. This engine will return in the History thanks to Leon Morane which beats the world speed records the July 9th 1910. The house of the painter will be preserved until in 1944. In 1915 the company `' Gnome'' amalgamates with the company `' the Rhone'' of Lyon for coming Gnôme and the Rhone. This new name takes part in the effort of war as a manufacturer of the engines of planes, which enables him to develop largely thanks to the military orders. The factory changes, a unit of forging mill and of foundry is created. In 1919 the territory of the factory is not such as it does not remain any more but the property of Eugene Paillart and the shipyard “Luce” which do not belong to the Seguin empire. This extension transforms, modifies the life of Small Gennevilliers. From 1923 of the motor bikes are produced under the name of Gnôme and the Rhone. At the time of the Second world war, the factory bombarded in 1942 is relatively saved, but it is completely destroyed during the allied bombardment of 1944. The house of Gustave Caillebotte, which was used as chemistry laboratory, is destroyed. Only the Marteau-pilon remains upright! Between 1946 and 1948 the company was still rebuilt and extends. In 1946 Charles Tillon, Minister for the armament favorable to a policy of renewal for aeronautics and to the nationalization gives birth to SNECMA.
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In 1886 Modeste Narrow part, husband of Eugenie Turpin installs the first branch of sound store rémois with 78 rue de l'Arbre Sec (street Paul Valiant-Dressmaker). Thanks to this development the establishments Narrow part-Turpin created new warehouses with Gennevilliers, avenue of Grésillons.
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1899 : Installation by Sirs Ernest Chenard and Henry Walcker (Argenteuil 1873 - 1912) of a workshop street Henri Barbusse with Gennevilliers to manufacture there Cycles, motor bicycles, Three-wheeled S, quadricycles, carriers then engines.
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1905 Installation of the Company of lighting, heating and driving force. This factory located on the edges of the the Seine occupied 58 hectares and had a rail network of 24 km. This gas power station, one of most powerful of Europe employs as of the beginning approximately 2.000 workmen. In 1945, the company is nationalized and transferred to the Gaz de France in 1946
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1913 : The company Carbone acquires the Biron farm, (7 Hectare S) located at the angle of the Camélinat boulevard and the street Jean-Jaurès, and in 1914 settles there. In 1937 it amalgamates with the Lorraine Compagnie of coals for electricity by taking the name of Carbone Lorraine. In 1956 the company yields to the city a piece of this ground to draw up the monument of Resistance there.
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1916 : The Aciéries Delachaux are installed on a ground of 20 hectares which goes from the street of Caboeufs to the avenue of the Bridge of Saint-Ouen (which occurred Louis Roche). This factory is specialized in the cast iron, the modelling of the machine elements, the wheels of trucks and large agricultural machines, the pulleys, the production of chromium.
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In 1916, always, the establishments Behin originating in Paris settle in Gennevilliers, boulevard of Grésillons (boulevard Louise Michel). The factory which manufactures barrels, small casks and cans can from now on develop its activity devoted to the work of sheet and work large-sized plates and feed the military needs. It quickly acquires a good reputation in the field of the metallic containers and the office furniture.
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1919 : The thermal powerplant leaves ground thanks to the Union of electricity (UDE). This power station quickly becomes most important of the France and largest of the world. Located in edge of the Seine very close to the bridge of Argenteuil, its site was already envisaged before the war belonging to a vast program of electrification of the Paris region. Its activity ceases in 1985. The power station is destroyed in February 2006.
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In 1919, always, the factory Aubert and Duval specialized in the manufacture of the special steels, settles in the district of the Dry Tree (street Paul Valiant-Dressmaker). The company provided the valves for the 2CV Citroen and also works for Bugatti, Delage, Hotchkiss and manufactures even gear boxes for helicopters. It is part from now on of the group Eramet
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Between 1921 and 1927 the number of factory passes from 44 to 88. The new factories occupy sometimes several hectares.
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1924 : the company Geoffroy Delore is installed street of the Seam of Auxerre, on 3 hectares, downtown full. This company was specialized in the manufacture of flexible wire under textiles, then in the manufacture of armoured cables and telephone cables. In 1925 it launches the push-pull cables metal. In 1965 it has 4 factories. In 1970, the company is absorbed by the general Compagnie of the cables of Lyon. In 1977 the production of the factory of Gennevilliers is stopped.
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Towards 1925 the company Fly-Tox (in French one said flitox ) was installed street of Noëls. This company manufactured famous “the cobra” whose patent was deposited in 1927.
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1926 : the car manufacturer Charles Mathis, established with Strasbourg, is installed on a ground located which occurred of the Bridge of Saint-Ouen (which occurred Louis Roche).
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In 1926, also, vis-a-vis the constant request of the automobile orders and paintings and varnishes for Citroen, Berliet, Saviem etc… the company of varnished and Peintures Valentine is installed, on 4 hectares, boulevard of Grésillons (boulevard Louise Michel). The factory is brought into service in 1928. Partly destroyed in 1944, it is rebuilt. In 1984 the factory passes to the hands of Imperial Chemical Industries (HERE).
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1928 : Beginning of the construction of the first two wet docks of the Port of Gennevilliers.
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In 1931 the first two basins, of the Port of Gennevilliers are finished. They however will be used only after the Second world war.
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the site of Thomson CSF is created in Gennevilliers in 1934. Devoted to the radioelectric manufacture of material for the military transmissions. The buildings are altered in 1955 then 1970.
Today, the old laboratories of Thomson are occupied by the Cafés Richard.
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the company Slipper date of 1907, It is a boiler making originating in Asnières on the Seine which specializes as of the beginning in the manufacture of radiators then diversifies. In 1932, it opens a body shop providing Ford, Citroen, Chenard, Delage. In 1936 it repurchases Chenard and Walcker. During the war the prototype of the Because Slipper is a success and after the war, it becomes first French manufacturer of bus and heavy vehicles, occupying 200.000 m ² of ground in full heart of the city.
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1936 : the Laboratoires Mauchant settle 22 boulevard circular of Épinay (boulevard Camélinat). They are specialized in the medicinal products and in particular the powders for babies (the Talc). In 1960 the laboratory increases. In 1975 the unit is transferred to Clichy.
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In 1936, always, the house Cinzano settles street of Caboeufs. The buildings include/understand the workshops of congestions, the wine storehouses, the offices and the stores. From 1957 the company amalgamates and becomes Dubonnet - Cinzano. Later they are the establishments Vernhes, distributers of fine wines which replace them.
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establishments Bertrand and Co are completely destroyed in 1940 with the Havre. After the war the company makes rebuild a semolina factory and a factory of pasta products along the Seine at the end of the avenue Louis Roche. This factory is exploited since the Années 1970 by Panzani.
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In 1955, the warehouses and stores Ford France are located at the end of the avenue of the Bridge of Épinay (which occurred Marcel Paul). They are a center cold manufacture varnished and paintings containing flammable products.
Economy
Very near to the Capital and equipped with good a Infrastructure, the city became an important industrial center of the area, as well as a crossroads Logistique with in particular the premises of the undertaking Calberson (group Géodis).The Port of Gennevilliers (Port authority of Paris) is most important of the four large ports of Île-de-France: metallurgical Products, Ores and Waste, Combustible S solids and Oil products, Construction materials, Machine S and Vehicles (Renault), Agricultural produce and Foodstuffs forward there.
Transport
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rail-bound Transport:
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the commune is served by two Gare S of the line C of the RER:
- '' Gennevilliers ''
- '' Grésillons ''
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the station Perished Gabriel - Asnières - Gennevilliers, opened in 1980, is located at the end of the Asnières branch (or the North-West) of the line 13 of the Parisian subway. A prolongation to the station Asnières-Gennevilliers it Luth is currently in construction for an opening envisaged at the beginning of 2008. This prolongation is composed of two stations after the station Gabriel Péri. A third station, Port of Gennevilliers, must be open in a second phase. The RATP launched studies to duplicate line 13 starting from Saint-Lazare, is by prolonging the line 14 with automatic control towards Gennevilliers or Saint-Denis, is by creating a clean line since Saint-Lazare towards Gennevilliers or Saint-Denis by 2015.
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Of the port of Gennevilliers, there is an electrified railway beam of 750 m directly connected up on the rail networks and the station the SNCF of Colombes - The-Stage.
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Road transport: On the communes of Gennevilliers and Villeneuve-the-Garenne is located the highway exchanger between the has 86 (Parisian super-peripheral) and the A15. The highways A1, A13 and A14 are also in the vicinity. Bus and shuttle of the port is connected to the network the RATP.
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River transport and maritime: Convoys up to 5.000 T on the the Seine downstream and 3.000 T on the upstream and the Oise. River regular lines of containers Le Havre - Rouen - Gennevilliers with four rotations per week. Fluvio-maritime coasters up to 2.600 T of port into heavy without breaking bulk in international traffic.
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Pipeline: Not arrival of the Refinery S of the Basse-Seine. Not connection of the networks around Paris.
Administration
Gennevilliers is divided into two: cantons (Gennevilliers-North: 21 853 inhabitants and Gennevilliers-South: 20 660 inhabitants) who belong to the Arrondissement of Nanterre.
List mayors
Personalities related to the commune
- Pierre-Augustin Charon de Beaumarchais, writer of theater, played the first of the Mariage of Barber , in deprived, with the castle of Gennevilliers (Pasteur college).
- Gustave Caillebotte, painter, lived there and died there in 1894.
- Edouard Manet, painter, lived in Gennevilliers.
- Jean Grandel, mayor of Gennevilliers, shot with Chateaubriant by the Nazis the October 22nd 1941 with 26 other resistant.
- the woman and the child of the musician of Jazz Sidney Bechet lived in Gennevilliers.
- Fernand Raynaud, humorist lived in Gennevilliers.
- Georges Marchal, lived there.
- Pierre Perret, singer lived 8 years in the district of the Ditch of Alms.
- Gerard Delteil, writer and journalist lived in the district of Grésillons.
- Ramzy Bedia, humorist of the comic duet Eric and Ramzy
- Garra Dembélé, footballer evolving/moving with Istres
- Isabelle Adjani, actress passed her childhood there.
- White Eric, player of Rugby began his career with the CSM Gennevilliers.
- Thierry Vine grower, born in 1960, pole vaulter lived with the Ditch of Alms then to the Lute.
- David Ngog, born in 1989, footballer evolving/moving with the Paris Saint-Germain.
Places and monuments
- the college Pasteur is built on the site of the castle of Gennevilliers.
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Church: Old church destroyed after the floods of 1649, it remains only the bell-tower. The first stone for its rebuilding is posed in 1650 by Armand prince de Conti and 18 months later, the church is completed. The door and the frontage are remade and modified in 1830 It is devoted in 1665 by the bishop of Dax. The stained glasses date from the beginning of the 20th century.
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Refuge of SPA Grammont
It is modernized and increased in 1927, thanks to a subsidy of Madam Camille Of Gast.
In 1958 it is moved at the current place, which occurred Bridge of Saint-Denis (which occurred Charles de Gaulle).
See too
External bonds
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Official site of the city
- Port of Gennevilliers
- Blazon and history of Gennevilliers
- Site of the SPA of Gennevilliers
Notes, sources and references
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