Boissise-le-Roi is a commune in the department of Seine-et-Marne, in the Île-de-France region, 10 km south-west of Melun.
Its 7 km² territory borders the course of the Seine, on the left bank. The locality is thus located in the northern part of the natural region of Gâtinais, in the Brière plain, on the borders of the forest of Fontainebleau...
In fact, its landscapes have mainly retained a rural and green aspect, composed of arable land (54% of the area) and forest (7%).
The town is still made up of the village of Orgenoy, to the south, whose lands were donated by King Louis VI to the Abbey of Saint-Victor in Paris in the 12th century, and the town of Boissise to the north, which is was built around the Château des Thumery in the 13th and 14th centuries. This powerful family "offered" a number of squires and knights in the service of the kings of France and Henri IV himself visited them... As for the seigniorial castle, rebuilt after the Hundred Years War, it was burned down at the beginning, restored, it became the seat of the town hall in the 1980s…
Nowadays, with around 3700 inhabitants, Boissise-le-Roi is a pleasant little town in the countryside. Formerly famous for the exploitation of its millstones, it has a leisure offer linked in particular to the environment of the banks of the Seine, able to seduce lovers of green tourism.
Several heritage sites reflect the history of the locality. This is first of all the case of the Saint-Denis church, listed in the Inventory. Dating from the 13th century and remodeled in the 16th century, the building was completely restored in 1994. Adjoining the castle of which it was originally the chapel, the 25 m long church follows a rectangular plan comprising a nave and two non-symmetrical aisles.. At the level of the choir, there are small columns and a swimming pool once dedicated to purification rituals. A statue of Saint Anne, elements of stained-glass windows and funereal literals (decor in the shape of a black belt evoking mourning) with the arms of the Thumery family (former lords of Boissise-le-Roi), all dating from the 13th century, are still visible. The square bell tower is also characteristic. On the other hand, of more recent work, contemporary stained glass windows signed by the local artist Delhon adorn the building which houses a tabernacle and a sculpted group classified as objects. Note that the church hosts concerts and association events.
As far as the castle is concerned, it was rebuilt in the 19th century and presents a very elegant neo-classical style with a three-storey main building on the facade, equipped with a pediment, and with a terrace on the projecting entrance hall. Wings in return form the main courtyard. At the rear, the facade is confined by two cylindrical towers. One notices on the outskirts and in the park earlier elements, dating from the feudal period (elements of fortified walls), as well as outbuildings and a dovecote. After the Thumery family (the seigniorial dynasty occupied the premises for six centuries), the estate had several owners in the 19th and 20th centuries, such as a minister from Paraguay and a businessman who dismantled the agricultural estate before the Second World War. During this, a religious congregation was welcomed. Finally, in 1983, the municipality bought the whole thing to install the town hall and cultural services there. The park serves as a public garden. Information on +33 1 60 65 44 00.
In terms of culture, activities (readings, meetings, etc.) are regularly offered at the library: contact +33 1 60 65 86 39.
For athletes, tennis courts are accessible (to be reserved with the club on +33 6 07 71 06 41) and there is also a city stadium on rue du Château, another on rue de Faronville, as well as a bowling alley and football pitches.
On the banks of the Seine, playgrounds line the green pathways, as well as a private club dedicated to wakeboarding and waterskiing (information on +33 6 78 26 28 09). Launching areas are provided for canoeists.
There remains the potential offered in the town for hiking enthusiasts (walking or cycling). In addition to the charms of the paths along the Seine (which allow you to enjoy the natural area of Malécot in particular), secure routes link the south of the town (village of Orgenoy) towards the forest or the town of Melun, towards ballast. Maps and information on +33 1 64 52 64 52.
