Thomery
Encyclopedia
Thomery is a commune
in the Seine-et-Marne
department in the Île-de-France
region
in north-central France
, between the forest of Fontainebleau
and the river Seine
.
Inhabitants of Thomery are called Thomeryons.
's chasselas
) culture performed according to ancestral techniques on high walls. After harvesting, the grapes are disposed in especially designed bottles, filled with water and a charcoal piece, and stored over a period of several months in wine cave
s or cellars built inside the local houses. This technique allows the grapes to be sold after the Christmas season even as late as Easter with perfectly naturally preserved fruits. This tradition has been extremelly popular in from 19th century to WWII, and was destinated to rich tables in Paris (grapes were sold at Fauchon
) and beyond (the Russian Csar court was also delivered). The peak of production was in the 1920s with more than 800 tons of grapes a year cultured over a total 350 km (217.5 mi) of walls. The vine walls are still present in Thomery and have been classified in 1993 by the Monuments historiques
. Nowadays, only a few inhabitants are still running the activity for local consumption.
Communes of France
The commune is the lowest level of administrative division in the French Republic. French communes are roughly equivalent to incorporated municipalities or villages in the United States or Gemeinden in Germany...
in the Seine-et-Marne
Seine-et-Marne
Seine-et-Marne is a French department, named after the Seine and Marne rivers, and located in the Île-de-France region.- History:Seine-et-Marne is one of the original 83 departments, created on March 4, 1790 during the French Revolution in application of the law of December 22, 1789...
department in the Île-de-France
Île-de-France (région)
Île-de-France is the wealthiest and most populated of the twenty-two administrative regions of France, composed mostly of the Paris metropolitan area....
region
Régions of France
France is divided into 27 administrative regions , 22 of which are in Metropolitan France, and five of which are overseas. Corsica is a territorial collectivity , but is considered a region in mainstream usage, and is even shown as such on the INSEE website...
in north-central France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, between the forest of Fontainebleau
Forest of Fontainebleau
The forest of Fontainebleau is a mixed deciduous forest lying sixty kilometres southeast of Paris, France. It is located primarily in the arrondissement of Fontainebleau in the southwestern part of the department of Seine-et-Marne...
and the river Seine
Seine
The Seine is a -long river and an important commercial waterway within the Paris Basin in the north of France. It rises at Saint-Seine near Dijon in northeastern France in the Langres plateau, flowing through Paris and into the English Channel at Le Havre . It is navigable by ocean-going vessels...
.
Inhabitants of Thomery are called Thomeryons.
Economy
Over the centuries, Thomery has been home to the Chasselas of Thomery table grapes (different from the MoissacMoissac
Moissac is a commune in the Tarn-et-Garonne department in the Midi-Pyrénées region in southern France. It is famous world-wide mostly for the artistic heritage handed down by the ancient Saint-Pierre Abbey.-History:...
's chasselas
Chasselas
Chasselas or Chasselas Blanc is a wine grape variety grown in Switzerland, France, Germany, Portugal, Baja Norte, Mexico, Hungary and New Zealand.Theories of its origin vary. Pierre Galet believes it is a native Swiss variety....
) culture performed according to ancestral techniques on high walls. After harvesting, the grapes are disposed in especially designed bottles, filled with water and a charcoal piece, and stored over a period of several months in wine cave
Wine cave
Wine caves are subterranean structures for the storage and aging of wine. They are an integral component of the wine industry world wide. The design and construction of wine caves represents a unique application of underground construction techniques....
s or cellars built inside the local houses. This technique allows the grapes to be sold after the Christmas season even as late as Easter with perfectly naturally preserved fruits. This tradition has been extremelly popular in from 19th century to WWII, and was destinated to rich tables in Paris (grapes were sold at Fauchon
Fauchon
Fauchon is a French gourmet food company that was founded in 1886 by Auguste Fauchon. The company is based in Paris, France and operates retail outlets. Fauchon currently produces tea, chocolate, biscuits and sweets among other products.- History :...
) and beyond (the Russian Csar court was also delivered). The peak of production was in the 1920s with more than 800 tons of grapes a year cultured over a total 350 km (217.5 mi) of walls. The vine walls are still present in Thomery and have been classified in 1993 by the Monuments historiques
Monument historique
A monument historique is a National Heritage Site of France. It also refers to a state procedure in France by which national heritage protection is extended to a building or a specific part of a building, a collection of buildings, or gardens, bridges, and other structures, because of their...
. Nowadays, only a few inhabitants are still running the activity for local consumption.
External links
- Official website
- 1999 Land Use, from IAURIF (Institute for Urban Planning and Development of the Paris-Île-de-France région)
- French Ministry of Culture list for Thomery
- Map of Thomery on Michelin