Essonne, Administrative department in Île-de-France, France.
Essonne is a territory in Île-de-France that stretches south of Paris and brings together different types of landscape. Visitors find dense suburbs in the northern section and open fields with wooded hills farther south, while the Essonne river runs through the middle.
This territory was created in 1968 when the former Seine-et-Oise unit was divided into smaller parts. The reorganization aimed to manage growth around Paris more effectively and create smaller, more manageable areas.
The name Essonne comes from the river that flows through this territory, marking the landscape since early settlement times. Visitors can still see old watermills and wash houses along its banks, reminders of how people once lived and worked near the water.
Regular trains connect the larger towns to Paris, making day visits or trips to the surrounding area straightforward. Those traveling by car will find a well-developed road network, though morning hours can bring heavier traffic.
The Saclay plateau hosts several research centers where thousands of scientists work on new technologies. Though the facilities are often closed to the public, their presence shapes life in the surrounding area and attracts students from many countries.
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