The city of Île-de-France located in the Val-d'Oise department, Arnouville takes place about twenty kilometers from Paris, not far from Gonesse, Sarcelles or Villiers-le-Bel. The commune benefits from excellent public transport links, including the RER which leads to Paris and the south-east of the Paris region.
Named Arnoni Villa in the ninth century, the commune of Arnouville takes its definitive name in the middle of the eighteenth century. Erected as a county at the same time in favor of the Keeper of the Seals and former General Controller of the finances of Louis XV, it was also the place of welcome of King Louis XVIII in 1815 before his entry in Paris. At the beginning of the 20th century, Arnouville was a land of welcome for Armenians who had left their country following the genocide sponsored by the Turks. Even today, the Armenian community is still very present, as evidenced by some constructions.
The city of Arnouville has an interesting architectural heritage to discover during a visit to Paris and the Ile-de-France.
The Saint-Denis church is a neoclassical building, which was built at the end of the 18th century by the architect Jean-Baptiste Chaussard. It takes place on the vestiges of an old medieval church installed in the park of the castle of Arnouville. Essentially built of brick, it has a simple facade and little ornate, while inside it is possible to admire very beautiful altarpieces of which one presents in particular a painting of Saint Denis preaching to the Parisians.
Also listed in Historical Monuments, the monumental fountain in the Place de la Republique is decorated with beautiful sculptures. Built in the middle of the 18th century, it now adorns the roundabout of the square.
The castle of Arnouville is an elegant building of classical style built in the middle of the eighteenth century. Registered as a Historical Monument, it now houses a horticulture school whose French-style park is maintained by the students. From the original castle there is an orangery, while the monumental entrance gate deserves a detour.
Several Armenian churches take place in Arnouville, testifying to the important community still present in the city. These include the Armenian Catholic Church of St. Gregory the Illuminator of 1927 and the Armenian Apostolic Church of the Holy Cross of Varak. Built in the early 1930s, the latter has a khachkar, a sculptured stele decorated with a cross, which pays tribute to the one and a half million Armenians who were victims of the Turkish genocides of 1915.
In 2004, another monument paying homage to the Armenian Genocide was inaugurated in the rue Jean-Jaurès.
The largest church in the city, Notre-Dame-de-la-Paix church dates from the late 1950s. It is astonishing by its immense stained-glass window which constitutes the façade, thus breaking with the usual sacral architectural traditions.
The barn of the Ferme-Cheval, built in the 18th century and now restored, testifies to the agricultural past of the commune.
The market is held on Thursdays and Sundays morning, as well as on Friday afternoons. At the beginning of September, Troc and Puces will allow you to discover the traditional granaries of the commune. The child version is available in November. The city also offers a Christmas market with entertainment in December.
In February, Palette d'artistes offers a competition for amateur and professional artists of the region.
The Youth Literature Fair is held in early April.
The Armenian night, in April, offers to discover the Armenian culture through workshops or shows.
On July 13, for the National Day, Arnouville proposes its famous ball accompanied by a fireworks.
The festival of amateur theater takes its marks in the course of September.
