Montfort-l'Amaury

It was a seat of several noble families, including the Chardonnay family, who held lands there from the late 13th century.

• Name — Montfort-l'Amaury • Commune Status — Commune • Arrondissement — Rambouillet • Canton — Aubergenville • Insee — 78420 • Postal Code — 78490 • Mayor — Hervé Planchenault • Term — 2020–2026 • Intercommunality — CC Cœur d'Yvelines • Demonym — Montfortois • Elevation Min M — 98 • Elevation Max M — 183 • Area Km2 — 5.71

Montfort-l'Amaury lies north of the Rambouillet Forest. It is located at the foot of low hills, at about 130 m above sea level. Montfort-l’Amaury has a land area of about 5.71 km², with an elevation of approximately 130 meters above sea level. As of the latest legal census, the population is around 2,790 inhabitants, giving a population density of about 489 persons per square kilometer. Additionally, the composer Maurice Ravel lived in this commune between 1921 and 1937 in a house called Le Belvédère, which is now a museum. The ruins of the castle founded around the year 996 and the church of Saint-Pierre are also notable landmarks.

King Robert II built a castle in 996 in the hills of Montfort. Montfort-l'Amaury was the stronghold of the Montfort family from the start of the 11th century. Amaury I built the ramparts. The Comté de Montfort was related to the Duchy of Brittany following the marriage of Yolande de Dreux-Montfort with Arthur of Brittany in 1294. It returned to the crown of France when Brittany became a part of France under Francis I. The castle was destroyed by the English during the Hundred Years' War.

• Illustration — The ruins of the donjon, above the house of Maurice Ravel • Illustration — Maurice Ravel's house in Montfort-l'Amaury, where the composer lived from 1921 until his death • Ruins of the castle • Maison de Maurice Ravel, which is now a museum. Maurice Ravel lived here from 1921 until his death. • Château de Groussay, built in the 19th century

• Jean Anouilh, dramatist • Colette Darfeuil, actress • Henri George Doll, scientist • Pierre Dupuis (1610–1682), painter • Jean Monnet, architect of European Unity • Simon de Montfort, 6th Earl of Leicester (born in the castle, 1208) • Maurice Ravel, composer • Charles Aznavour, singer • Ambroise Roux (1921-1999), CEO of Compagnie générale d'électricité (later known as Alcatel) from 1970 to 1981, lived and died in Montfort-l'Amaury.

• Nickenich, Germany