The quaint town of
Chelles lies in the eastern fringes of the city of
Paris. It is located in the Seine-et-Marne district, and is part of the
Ile-de-France region.
Chelles lies at a distance of about 18 kilometers from the heart of
Paris.
Chelles is one of the communes in the Arrondissement of Torcy. The latter contains a total of 43 communes and 10 cantons. The town forms a part of the newly established area of Marne-la-Valee. Of the four sectors here,
Chelles falls under one called Porte de
Paris. The town has a population of over 52,000 people, and its residents are popularly known as ‘Chellois’.
Chelles is known across France because of its historical significance. The Notre-Dame-des-Chelles Abbey was situated in the town till it was brought down during the French Revolution. This abbey had been founded by Queen Bathilda, the wife of King Clovis II who ruled the Franks during the seventh century.
Chelles is still home to the St. Bathilde statue.
Along with the abbey,
Chelles was also home to Villa Calae, a Merovingian structure dating back to ancient times.
The other interesting event in
Chelles’ history was that of the sudden findings of Mortillet, a famous anthropologist. During the 19th century, Mortillet chanced upon artifacts and remnants from the Paleolithic age. This inspired him to add a further classification in the archaeological charts called ‘Chellean’. Presently, the classification is referred to as ‘Oldowan’.
The popularity of
Chelles as a town also rose because it was home to the famous sculptor Jean de
Chelles. He lived during the 13th century and is said to have been a major contributor in the construction of the Notre Dame Cathedral situated in
Paris. The statue dedicated to Jean de Chelles is now a major landmark in town.
