You all know Paris-Charles De Gaulle international airport located 23km north-east of Paris? Opened in 1974 to cope with the saturation of Orly Airport and Le Bourget airport; it bears the name of the one who was president when the decision to build this airport was taken in 1964.
The birth of Charles De Gaulle airport
Do you want to learn more about the impact of the construction of this airport for local residents? A film released by Paris Airport on the “Between Neighbors” website brings us back to early 1970s and explains to you the state of mind of those who have experienced it.
It was the time when the airport was called... "Paris Nord", where it was initially planned to multiply the concept of terminal 1 (the "camenbert") on the following terminals, where Tremblay les Gonesse was not yet spent in Tremblay-en-France…
During this video recording, the work will start soon and residents are worried. It's the only topic of conversation in the small village of Roissy-en-France, Mesnil-Amelot and Epiais Les Louvres. After the first minute of the film, the interviews began more than 50 years ago (audiovisual nuggets): The restaurateur and the teacher from Mesnil Amelot, the beet growers from Epiais les Louvres, the agricultural worker, and at the end of the film, will you recognize the mayor of Roissy-en-France at the time?
Of all the farms, only the Mortières farm is condemned and in this region dedicated to agriculture the life of the inhabitants will be turned upside down.
Today, the global importance of Charles De Gaulle airport
Paris-Charles De Gaulle airport is now the first in France by its importance ; The second largest airport hub in Europe (after London-Heathrow airport in the United Kingdom); and the ninth airport in the world in 2019 for passenger traffic with 76,15 million passengers.
Paris-Charles De Gaulle airport is a correspondence platform for companies in the Air France-KLM group and member airlines of the Skyteam alliance ; but also in freight material with FedEx ou DHL.
The Val d'Oise from 1950 to the present day
The digital services of the Department of Val d'Oise have created a mapping application allowing to compare current aerial photographs with those of France in the 50s. A great tool to better understand the urbanization of the territory.
Do you want to access this application? Nothing could be simpler, just click here.
