Sainte-Geneviève-des-Bois, Suburban commune in Essonne, France
Sainte-Geneviève-des-Bois is a suburban commune located about 24 km south of Paris in the Essonne region, stretching along the Orge river valley. The area blends residential neighborhoods with green spaces and includes the notable Russian Orthodox cemetery alongside other local facilities and amenities.
The area has been inhabited since Roman times, evolving from a small village in the 1800s into a major suburban center by the 20th century. The growth accelerated significantly after World War I, when it became a refuge for Russian emigrants fleeing political upheaval.
The Russian Orthodox cemetery here holds graves of people who fled Russia after the revolution in the early 1900s and made this place their home. You can walk through and see how this community left its mark on the area through the cemetery's distinctive monuments and inscriptions.
The town connects to Paris via the RER C railway line, offering direct access to the city center and nearby suburban areas for easy exploration. Multiple bus routes serve the commune, and the flat terrain makes it convenient for walking or cycling if you want to explore at your own pace.
One of France's first major supermarkets opened here in the 1960s, fundamentally changing how people shopped across the country. This store marked the beginning of a new era in modern retail that transformed consumer habits nationwide.
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