Créteil is a south eastern suburb of
Paris, only 11.5 km from the centre.
Créteil is the capital of the Val-de-Marne department. The district is largely residential, but there are also areas of business and light industry, as well as law courts and a university. There is also a major regional shopping centre. South of
Paris, this is an important suburb with many people working in the capital.
Créteil was a village until rapid expansion began in the 1920-40’s with the building of new houses. Further expansion followed in the 1970’s and 1980’s with the construction of high-rise blocks of apartments to house the growing population. As well as large additions to the housing stock thought has been given to recreation. Where there used to be gravel pits there are now lakes which are popular with boaters, fishermen and wind surfers.
Places of interest include, the Bibliotheque National de France. It’s futuristic design draws many visitors. Tourist also seek out
Paris’s most famous cemetery, the Pere-Lachaise Cemetery , and the Opéra de Paris Bastille, which was opened in 1989 to celebrate the bicentennial of the storming of the Bastille.
Créteil has four small islands linked to each other by footbridges, This area seems miles away from a
Paris suburb; it consists of old houses and country villas surrounded by riverside walks and Weeping Willows. In the Middle Ages the islands were owned by the canons of Notre-Dame in
Paris. They leased the land to the local villagers in order to ensure that the weeping willows were maintained. After World War 2 this area was in a badly neglected condition and was sold cheaply. It was a popular area for those seeking a rural alternative to the newly created 1960’s town. The site is now listed and is a welcome and unexpected oasis at the edge of the city.
