Gometz-le-Châtel

Gometz-le-Châtel is a commune in the Essonne department of France. It is a southern suburb of Paris, 25 km from the center of Paris.

Geography
This village is near Les Ulis, Bures-sur-Yvette, Gif-sur-Yvette and Gometz-la-Ville, along the old road from Paris to Chartres, crossing the Hurepoix.

Climate
Gometz-le-Châtel has an oceanic climate (Köppen climate classification Cfb). The average annual temperature in Gometz-le-Châtel is 11.3 C. The average annual rainfall is 734.7 mm with December as the wettest month. The temperatures are highest on average in July, at around 19.3 C, and lowest in January, at around 4.1 C. The highest temperature ever recorded in Gometz-le-Châtel was 42.8 C on 25 July 2019; the coldest temperature ever recorded was -18.2 C on 16 January 1985.

History

 * This is a very old village, known since 1068.
 * A train line was built between Paris to Chartres via Gallardon, at the beginning of the 20th century, with a station at Gometz-le-Châtel. It was used from 1931 to 1939, but there is no traffic nowadays. Paris RER, B line, can be used to go there by train Bures-sur-Yvette (Paris RER) or La Hacquinière (Paris RER).
 * An experimental Aérotrain was built, from Gometz-le-Châtel to Limours, for a trial, from 1966 to 1977, a creation of Jean Bertin (railway engineer). This experiment was replaced by the TGV, operating currently.

Population
Inhabitants of Gometz-le-Châtel are called Castelgometziens in French.

Places to see

 * Saint-Clair's Church built during the 10th Century.
 * Viaduc des Fauvette
 * La Fontaine Miraculeuse

Personalities

 * Charles Peguy (French author) lived here for a time.