Colombes is a suburban town, less than 11 km from
Paris’ centre, to the northwest. It is in the department of Hauts-de-Seine. It is mainly an industrial suburb. Its growth was based on electronics and mechanical and electrical engineering. Although the general decline in these industries mean that today they are less important to the regions economy.
Colombes can be accessed via three railway stations on the Transilien Paris-Saint Lazare suburban rail line.
The name
Colombes derives from the Latin word, columna , which means "column". This is believed to be a connection to a megalithic column used in ancient times by Druids, which previously stood in
Colombes, or perhaps to the columns of an atrium in a ruined Gallo-Roman villa.
Around
Colombes the area is rich with evidence of the Hamlet’s long existence. A sarcophagus discovered in a local Merovingian cemetery is on display at the museum. The town has been associated with Abbey of St-Denis since the 12th century. Around the church are 15th century houses previously occupied by wine growers and peasants, while nearby are the houses of the more affluent middle class merchants. Built at the same time as these houses is the charming bridge of Neuilly.
With the decline of industry
Colombes has become a popular area to live for those working in
Paris. It is also a popular place for tourists wishing to visit
Paris, as it is well served with hotels, and it has easy access to central
Paris. It is a town with small shops and boutiques, markets everyday except Monday and a reasonable selection of bars and restaurants. There are also museums, including the Musee Municipal d’Arte et d’Histoire, and theatres including the famous L’Avant-Seine.
Colombes is also known for the Stadium, Stade Olympique Yves-du-Manoir, built in 1907. It was the site of the opening ceremony of the 1924 Summer Olympics. Later, in 1938 the arena's capacity was increased to 60,000 for the World Cup.
