La Plain of France, also called Country of France, is a natural region located north of Paris, between the Seine and the Oise. This vast silty plateau is best known for its fertile agricultural land, where cereal cultivation has long predominated. Historically, this plain served as a wheat granary for the capital, and is home to many ancient villages. Near Roissy, the Plaine de France has been marked by increasing urbanization, particularly with the establishment of Roissy-Charles-de-Gaulle airport, while retaining certain authentic and rural landscapes.
The cradle of “France”
The name “France” comes from the “Pays de France”, a territory dating back to the Merovingians in the 5th centurye century. Originally, it designated a vast area between the Rhine and the Loire, but in the 10th centurye century, it only concerned the region northeast of Paris. The first mention of the name "France" dates from 1126, in a text on the Abbey of Saint-Denis, which owned many lands in the region.
In the Middle Ages, many localities were called "in France" or "of France". From the Renaissance onwards, the term "Pays de France" was gradually integrated into the Île-de-France, while retaining its specificity to the north-east of Paris. Yesterday "cradle" from France, today "front door" from France thanks to its international airport.
A fertile territory rich in heritage
The Plaine de France, with its low relief and its vast agricultural lands intended mainly for cereal culture, has never been a major tourist region. However, it is home to several architectural and historical gems which attract heritage and art lovers. many churches, particularly from the Renaissance period, are scattered throughout the villages and are worth a visit. Saint-Acceul Church in Écouen, renowned for its stained glass windows, as well as the religious buildings of Villiers-le-Bel, Gonesse, Luzarches and Belloy-en-France, are magnificent examples of this.
The picturesque village ofÉCOUEN and its castle perched on a hill, offers a breathtaking view of the entire region. Built for the Constable Anne de Montmorency, this castle has housed since 1977 the National Renaissance Museum, adding a cultural dimension to the exploration of this ancient land.
A natural park and modern dynamics
Despite therapid urbanization of some parts of the Plaine de France, particularly around Roissy airport, the region preserves unspoiled nature in some of its rural areas. In 2004, fifteen municipalities in Val-d'Oise contributed to the creation of the Oise-Pays de France Regional Natural Park, thus strengthening the protection of this area. This park covers part of the plain and allows visitors to discover a variety of flora and fauna, while soaking up the serene and rural atmosphere of the Pays de France.
A land of inspirations
More recently, the Pays de France was praised by the novelist Aurélien Bellanger as part of the “Grand Paris des écrivains” project. Bellanger describes this region as one of the most beautiful and least known of modern landscapes. According to him, It is a territory with a vague reality, filled with invisible doors, which echoes the mystery of Nerval's stories. He also sees it as a place where modernity and history blend harmoniously, with its modern infrastructures such as airports, amusement parks and various warehouses, while preserving a part of the intact grandeur of Paris..
Between authenticity and modernity
The Plaine de France, although having lost part of its agricultural identity with urbanization, remains a territory rich in history and heritage. Its charm lies in its authentic rural landscapes, its historical monuments and picturesque villages that stand the test of time. For lovers of history, art and nature, the Plaine de France offers a journey off the beaten track, far from the hustle and bustle of the Parisian capital, in a setting where rural traditions and modernity blend.