Saint-Pathus, Commune in Seine-et-Marne, arrondissement of Meaux, France
Saint-Pathus is a commune in the Seine-et-Marne department, within the arrondissement of Meaux, in the Île-de-France region north of Paris. The small river Thérouanne runs through the territory, which is surrounded by farmland and patches of woodland.
The local church, dedicated to Saint Pathus, dates back to the 12th century, showing that a settlement existed here through the medieval period. In March 1974, Turkish Airlines Flight 981 crashed in a forest near the commune, in one of the deadliest air accidents ever to take place on French soil.
Saint-Pathus sits around 6 miles (10 km) northwest of Meaux and can be reached by road from that city. The flat terrain around the village makes it easy to explore on foot or by bike, and the surrounding paths through fields and woods are accessible year-round.
The name of the village comes from a little-known early Christian martyr called Pathus, who according to local tradition is buried in the area. The church dedicated to him has kept his name alive through the centuries, even though few people outside the region have heard of him.
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