La Ferté-Alais

La Ferté-Alais

View from the east, looking over the town towards the airfield

Coat of arms
La Ferté-Alais

Coordinates: 48°28′54″N 2°20′53″E / 48.4816°N 2.348°E / 48.4816; 2.348Coordinates: 48°28′54″N 2°20′53″E / 48.4816°N 2.348°E / 48.4816; 2.348
Country France
Region Île-de-France
Department Essonne
Arrondissement Étampes
Canton Mennecy
Government
 • Mayor (2014–2020) Marie-Annick Piere
Area1 4.55 km2 (1.76 sq mi)
Population (2006)2 4,064
 • Density 890/km2 (2,300/sq mi)
Time zone CET (UTC+1)
 • Summer (DST) CEST (UTC+2)
INSEE/Postal code 91232 / 91590
Elevation 53–142 m (174–466 ft)

1 French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km² (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries.

2 Population without double counting: residents of multiple communes (e.g., students and military personnel) only counted once.

La Ferté-Alais is a commune in the Essonne department in Île-de-France in northern France. It is 52 km (32 mi) south of Paris. It used to be a forteress closing the access to the French royal estate from the Essonne valley, then became an industrial village with sand and stones Its airfield (in Cerny really), hosts a world-famous air show for vintage World War I and WWII aircraft and a museum of such aircraft.

It even has the aircraft (still airworthy) that Louis Blériot used to cross the English Channel in 1909.

Inhabitants of La Ferté-Alais are known as Fertois.

It is a notable cycling route for bearded auditors.

Town Name history

The town name was known under the name Firmitas, Firmitas Aalipdis, Firmitas Adelaidis, Ferte in 1091, Firmitas Balduini, la Ferté Baudouin in the 12th century from the name of its lord in the 11th century, Feritas, Firmitas Aidelaidis around 1200, apud Feritatem Alisie in 1266, la Ferté Aales around 1263. The name La Ferte-Aleps appears in the Cassini maps and the final name of the commune is registered during its creation in 1793. It is possible to find the name La Ferté-Alaix and afterwards La Ferté-Alais in the law bulletin in 1801. But the final name will remain from 1845 onwards.

See also

References

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