Pontault-Combault is a city of Seine-et-Marne, bordering Seine-Saint-Denis, in the Île-de-France region, 25 km east of Paris.
Crossed by a small tributary of the Marne, the Morbras, bordered to the north by woods and to the south by the forest of Notre-Dame, the town is the fruit of the merger of two rural localities in 1839, Pontault and Combault.
From the beginning of the twentieth century, agricultural activity gave way to increasing urbanization to accommodate families of workers who joined the industries of the capital and its crown.
The habitat was firstly a flatshed, then large ensembles were erected from the 1960s onwards. Demography began: less than a thousand inhabitants at the end of the First World War, 4,000 in 1936, 9,000 in 1968 And nearly 38,000 today.
With its commercial and business activities, Pontault-Combault has preserved a part of its historical and natural heritage, and shows a real cultural and associative wealth. This is a step of interest for those staying in the area.
On the architectural level, Pontault-Combault has several buildings worth seeing. This is the case of the church of Saint-Denis, built on 13th century bases and famous for having a large bell baptized in the sixteenth century.
Also worth mentioning is the present-town-hotel, built in the old castle of Combault (XVIIIth). After the last war, the building housed the Office for the Protection of Jewish Children.
Another home of character, the castle of Bois-la-Croix (19th century), where the novelist Georges Ohnet resided and then the Morane family (pioneers of aeronautics).
As for the Château de Candalle, once the residence of the lords of Pontault, it was transformed into a school group.
In terms of culture, it was in 1989 that the Île-de-France Photographic Center was set up in the grape farm of an old briarde farm. It proposes 380 m² dedicated to exhibitions, but also hosts artists in residence and organizes courses, meetings and initiation workshops. Information on +33 1 70 05 49 80.
In the south of the city, in addition, the cultural complex "Les Passerelles" inaugurated in 2010 brings together media library and concert hall and offers exhibitions mainly dedicated to contemporary art. Information on +33 1 60 37 29 90.
Although very urbanized, the municipal territory still has many natural spaces suitable for walking or hiking. This is the case of the Park of the City Hall with an area of 4 hectares of which more than one hectare of grassed ground (farniente, games of balloons) and 2.4 hectares wooded.
One can also take advantage of the site of the pond of Coq, which encompasses part of the territory of Roissy-en-Brie, offering 20 hectares of natural space appreciated by walkers, fishermen and sportsmen. The place is protected for its rich biodiversity. Finally, the forest of Notre-Dame, the Bois Saint-Martin or the Bois de Célie, represent several hundred hectares open to the public. Bikes, pedestrians or riders can therefore share several tens of kilometers of paths and trails. The fauna and flora are of an astonishing variety.
All courses for walks including natural and heritage sites on +33 1 60 39 60 39.
For swimming, finally, the aquatic center of Nautil offers sporting and recreational pools, fitness center and climbing wall! Entry from 5 euros. Information on +33 1 60 34 62 62.
In May or June depending on the year, on the weekend of Pentecost, the Franco-Portuguese festival offers two days of folk entertainment, shows and concerts. The meeting brings together tens of thousands of visitors.
During the second half of June, the conservatories of Pontault-Combault and Roissy-en-Brie propose the festival Free Sons.
In July, in the center "Les Passerelles", every Thursday evening, outdoor shows (arts of the creek, theater...).
Finally, note that the riches of the terroir (including the famous cheeses of La Brie) are to be discovered on the market of the station, Thursday from 14h to 19h and Sunday morning, and the market of the place Louis-Aragon all Tuesday morning.
