Harlow Town Twinning Association

French National Anthem	Location Map

The town of Vélizy can trace its history to the 13th century, when it was a small hamlet called Les Ursines and dependant upon the royal village of Versailles. It was involved in the Franco-Prussian war - being burnt by the Prussians in 1815, and occupied in 1870.

Click to view Cedar Square

Click to view Street

The community of Villacoublay were awarded the Croix de Guerre in 1952. Its military airfield was important in the history of aviation. In 1884 the flyers Charles Renard and Arthur Krebs made history with their airship 'La France'. The first aircraft flight (Wright machine) piloted by Charles de Lambert took place in 1910. In 1935 Meryse Hilz established the first altitude record.

Since the Second World War, Vélizy-Villecoublay has merged and developed into a modern town with large shopping complex's and a healthy industrial area, mainly in telecommunications, car production, paper manufacturing and aircraft production.

Click to view New Cultural Centre

Click to view Shops

The town is small compared to Harlow, with a population of just over 21,000. Most people live in apartment blocks, with many open spaces surrounding. The older part of the town consists of small houses with gardens. The town is surrounded by woodlands and lakes, very near Versailles and about thirty minutes by car from Paris.