Jarrow - Epinay-ser-Seine Town Twinning
All about Epinay
Epinay is a town in the northern suburbs of Paris and part of the Seine-Saint-Denis départment on the River Seine. é;pinay originated from a Gallic-Roman settlement called Spinogelum (Place of Thorns and Gorse), a Latin term for the local vegetation, translated to Espineuil which became Epinay in modern day French.
Served by one of the main routes into Paris, Epinay became popular with the Parisians who left the bustle of Paris in favour of the parks and greenery of Epinay. The famed Madame d'Epinay was the wife of the local nobleman developed a reputation for Epinay welcoming greats such as Jean-Jacques Rousseau, Grimm, Diderot and became the home to the fashion designer to Marie Antoinette, Rose Bertin.
In the 18 th Century, Epinay developed an industrial heart, and was progressively urbanised. However, what remained were the green parks along the Seine riverside; parks of real quality, which were transformed by Rousseau from a French style to an English garden style.
Post World War II, due to a housing shortage, a number of huge blocks of flats were constructed in the heart of the town. However, Epinay has retained its character and most of its impressive architecture and parks.
Like South Tyneside, Epinay is undergoing transformation and is adopting a regeneration strategy not too dissimilar to our own. The Mairie, or Council, is proposing to re-orientate the town towards the river, which was so important in Epinay's history, and to regenerate its tall blocks of flats in favour of more modern and sympathetic designs.
Epinay will always be famous for…
- The films of Jean Renoir
- The paintings of Jean-Jaques Rousseau
- The fashion of Rose Bertin
- The literary works of Diderot
- The river Seine
- The parks
