Corbeil-Essonnes

Corbeil-Essonnes: church of Saint-SpireChurch of Saint-Spire in Corbeil-Essonnes, France.

Corbeil-Essonnes, town, Essonne département, Île-de-France région, north-central France, at the confluence of the Seine and Essonnes rivers, just southeast of Paris. Corbeil and Essonnes, formerly separate towns, were united in 1951. Corbeil (ancient Corbilium) has a 14th-century gate and the medieval church of Saint-Spire (originally an abbey). An independent county in the Carolingian period, it was annexed to France by Louis VI in 1108 and was probably the birthplace of William of Corbeil, archbishop of Canterbury (1123–36). A treaty between Louis IX of France and James I the Conqueror of Aragon was signed there in 1258. Industrial development included flour and paper mills, printing plants, and foundries. Today the manufacture of aircraft engines and the electronics industry dominate the local industrial economy. A new town has been built at nearby Evry. Pop. (1999) 39,378; (2014 est.) 49,373.

This article was most recently revised and updated by Amy Tikkanen.