Pont-sainte-maxence

The city counts nearly 13.000 inhabitants, Pontois or Maxipontains, for 1.476 hectares. With the Sainte-Maxence church of Gothic style, the Saint-Lucien church of Romance style, the hamlet of the Villette and its castle, the remainders of the old Palate of Iraine known as of the Dukes of Burgundy, its old houses and buildings, a framework environmental of quality between the forest and its site of Calipet, the Pagnotte Mount, the Oise river and the plains cultivated, its many sports associations and cultural, its many public services, Pont-Sainte-Maxence, knew to reconcile respect of the traditions and direction of modernity.

Pont-Sainte-Maxence belongs to the Community of Communes of the Countries of Oise and Halatte (CCPOH) which gather 16 communes and represent a basin of population of almost 35.000 inhabitants. The city and its territory have truly an industrial and commercial calling, on which approximately 700 craftsmen and tradesmen gathered, of large companies and a technological park of 300 researchers, the Atala park and a research centre of foreground, the INERIS.

Pont-Sainte-Maxence also wants to be nerve centre of reception facilities for all common the neighbourhoods that it is on the level of the school one, of the trade, of sports equipment and cultural.

Born in Belgium close to Chimay, to 300 meters of altitude, Oise crosses Pont-Sainte-Maxence of is in west, that is to say district of Sarron towards the industrial port. The locks and the stopping established in Sarron make it possible to control the course of the river and support the river navigation. Throughout the year you can attend the passage of the barges and pleasure boats. In the crossing of the city, the banks are arranged to allow the verge of boats. Many sites also support the practice of the angling. The port, located at the western end of the city is the first cereal port of Picardy.

Founded in 1309 per Philippe the Beautiful one, King de France from 1285 to 1314, the abbey was directed by the order of Clarisses of XIV century at the XVIII century. It knows many plunderings, fires, destruction through the centuries and was sold with the Revolution to be used as religious school before being entrusted to the Club of the old manor which will give again life to him.

Restored at the XX century, it stay inhabited formerly by the Marchioness of the Villette, Queen Philiberte Rouph de Varicourt, adoptive niece of Voltaire. The funeral urn containing the heart of Voltaire was preserved a long time there. The property was sold in 1865 to the Baron de Montreuil. His son sold it in 1900 with the Stern family.

One of the most antiquated churches of Oise. The bell-tower out of frame is central, short and slate cover. Close to the church was formerly a fountain dedicated to Saint Lucien, owner of Sarron. They came there in pilgrimage on October 16. “To connect the fever”, they soaked there a red wire which they attached to a bush. The fountain was replaced by a martyrdom.