Senlis
Picardie région, Oise département

How to get to Senlis: Schedule and Route Map from Charles De Gaulle Airport (Roissy):

LinePicardy-Roissy.pdf
Schedule_picardie_roissy2006.pdf

The other option is to take the RER to Chantilly [Gare du Nord train station to Chantilly Gouvieux] (Château de Chantilly) and take the #15 Bus (East) to Senlis. Both options will cost about $10-15 for traveling in each direction.

Senlis is in Picardy. It was from Picardy (Saint-Valery-sur-Somme) that William, The Conqueror sailed; it was in Picardy that the Battle of Crécy was fought (see also The Life of Henry the Fifth: ACT III, SCENE VI -- The English camp in Picardy) and where Henry VIII met François I of France at the Field of the Cloth of Gold. Henry last went to Picardy, during the late years of his reign, and this is when and where William West (first Lord Delaware) fought, restoring his family's honor.

"Guerre 1914 à 1918 - Senlis/Maison SIMON Rue de la République -- incendiée par les allemands"

Senlis is a beautiful old town, with Celtic connections (Ancienne capitale des Sulbanectes), early Roman ties as a market town and a fascination for France's monarchs; but, Senlis has been hard to get to, until some new connections by bus, eventhough it is only 20 or so miles north of the DeGaul Airport. The town is worth a visit, if only to see Cathédrale Notre-Dame (mid 12th Century) and / or the Roman and Art museum. If you have a day to spare, the town also has a small old royal hunting palace (Châteaux Royal) and an adjoining exhibit (small hunting and Spahis Museum); plus Chantilly is just down the road. Most guidebooks mention Senlis, but do not do it justice. For instance, there is an Arena just outside Senlis on the road to Chantilly that is the only example of this type in Picardy. The Arènes Gallo-Romaines is far more extensive and better preserved than that in Paris. Senlis' ancient resources are not Arles or Orange, but interesting none-the-less. The main draw of Senlis for tourists is its very well preserved medieval ambience and its architectural coherence. l'Office de Tourisme

Roman Wall at Senlis -- Bienvenue sur le site de la Société d'Histoire et d'Archéologie de Senlis !

Senlis was known in early Roman imperial times as Augustomagus and later as Civitas Silvanectium (City of the Silvanectes). During the 3rd century, a seven-meter high defensive wall, about half of which is still extant, was erected around the settlement in response to the first incursions by the Franks. The town's amphitheatre (arena) seated as many as 10,000 people and was used for public meetings, theatre, gladiatorial combats and animal hunts. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Senlis,_Oise In the 3rd century, Saint-Rieul (a companion to Saint Denis) évangélised Senlis. The election of Hugues Capet (987AD), the premier ruler of the Capétiens, favored the religious and economic life of the city. Many people from all over come to admire the cathedral's western portal, which features the premier stone representation of the Virgin's Ascension to Heaven. -- Views of Cathedal portals And, there is even a Sainte Jeane d'Arc connection (1429).

The former Catholic Diocese of Senlis existed from the sixth century, at least, to the French Revolution. The See was at Senlis. Suppressed by the Concordat of 1801, its authority passed to the Diocese of Beauvais. http://catho60.cef.fr/histoire/temoins/temoins.htm (française -- grandes figures chrétiennes et Saint(e)s de l'Oise et France)

Another Paris area Page -- And Another -- Environs -- Metz -- Winter 2007 -- Mont Saint-Michel -- Soissons -- Compiègne -- Beauvais -- Boulogne-sur-Mer, Calais, Dunkerque & Lille -- Lens, Arras & Cambrai -- Amiens, Albert and Abbeville -- Saint-Quentin and Laon

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New-October 2006: revised last-September 15, 2008