Rambouillet is a town and commune in the Yvelines département, lying about 50 km south-west of Paris. Population (1999): 24,758. Due to its proximity to Paris and Versailles it has long been an occasional seat of government.

History

Rambouillet was the location where parties to the Kosovo conflict met in February/March 1999 under the auspices of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation. The meeting resulted in an US-Anglo text being presented to the parties which provided for substantial transfers of Yugoslav sovereignty to NATO. Yugoslavia authorities refused to sign the document and a NATO air attack on Yugoslavia was carried out between March and June 1999.

Features

The old fortified Château de Rambouillet was acquired by Louis XVI of France in 1783 as a private residence; it is still the official summer residence of French presidents. In 1784 Louis XVI had a range built as a meeting for the government (the palace was subsequently rebuilt and occupied as the Palais du Roi de Rome by Napoleon Bonaparte's son).

It was largely ignored until February 1896, when Rambouillet was visited by President Félix Faure, with a view to spending the summer months there. Rambouillet thus became the official summer residence of the Presidents of the Fourth Republic and has retained its position.

Many other buildings owned by substantial political figures are to be found in the town and nearby area.

Miscellaneous

Rambouillet was the birthplace of:

• Ulysse Chevalier (1841-1923), bibliographer and historian
• Robert Benoist (1895-1944), Grand Prix motor racing driver and war hero

External link

• City council website (in French)