Discover Omerville

Omerville combines a location on the edge of a plateau with a townscape shaped by old lanes and historic buildings. The agricultural expanses of the Aubette Valley, the Church of Saint-Martin and several wayside crosses offer different points of interest. If you want to assess a destination through its landscape and specific local history, you will find both here: views over the valley and traces of several centuries.

Townscape and Landscape

Omerville was partly fortified in the Middle Ages and has preserved old lanes with a circular layout. The history of the fortifications and the surviving shape of the lanes describe different aspects of the town: one points to its medieval past, while the other defines the course of the old streets. Local history can therefore be found not only in individual buildings but also in the layout of the lanes.

Situated on the edge of a plateau, Omerville overlooks the agricultural expanses of the Aubette Valley. The natural area also includes the Type I ZNIEFF «coteaux de la ferme de Louvière». This gives you two distinct areas of focus when planning your trip: the valley views and the designated natural area on one hand, and the lanes and historic buildings on the other.

Saint-Martin and Its Building History

The oldest part of the Church of Saint-Martin dates from the late 11th century. It has a central Romanesque bell tower and has been classified as a historic monument since 1927. The building’s age, its architectural feature and its protected status are three separate points of reference: the date applies to the oldest part, the Romanesque style to the bell tower, and the year 1927 to the classification. These details are not interchangeable when assessing the church: the late 11th century dates its oldest part, while 1927 refers to its classification as a historic monument.

Wayside Crosses and Historic Traces

The Croix-Fromage, a monolithic limestone wayside cross, stands in Omerville’s central square. The origin of its name also points to the town’s past: it is said to refer to round cheeses made at the farm of the Manoir de Mornay-Villarceaux and sold in the square in the 19th century. The manor was built in the 16th century. This example brings together a stone monument, the history of a place name, and the former production and sale of goods in the square.

The Croix Quatre Pieds offers a different historical interpretation: it illustrates the Church’s Christianization of megaliths over the centuries and is privately owned. The Sentier du patrimoine d’Omerville leads to the Croix pattée, giving the heritage trail a named destination in addition to the individual landmarks.

North of Omerville, the former Louvières commandery was founded by the Hospitallers of Saint John of Jerusalem. On July 22, 1212, the Knights of Saint John of Jerusalem purchased the land and seigneurial estate of Louvières from Gauthier de Louvières and his nephew Raoul. The Hospitallers’ founding of the commandery and the knights’ purchase were two separate historical events; July 22, 1212, is the date of the purchase.

Discover more destinations: Saint-Brice-Sous-Forêt, Survilliers, Avernes, Eaubonne, Labbeville, Theuville, Soisy-Sous-Montmorency, Roissy-En-France.

For the broader travel overview: Val-D'oise.