Rocquencourt

For the commune in the Oise département, see Rocquencourt, Oise.
Rocquencourt

Town hall

Coat of arms
Rocquencourt

Coordinates: 48°50′13″N 2°06′42″E / 48.8369°N 2.1117°E / 48.8369; 2.1117Coordinates: 48°50′13″N 2°06′42″E / 48.8369°N 2.1117°E / 48.8369; 2.1117
Country France
Region Île-de-France
Department Yvelines
Arrondissement Versailles
Canton Le Chesnay
Intercommunality Grand Parc
Government
 • Mayor (2008–2013) Hubert Chesnot
Area1 2.78 km2 (1.07 sq mi)
Population (2006)2 3,333
 • Density 1,200/km2 (3,100/sq mi)
Time zone CET (UTC+1)
 • Summer (DST) CEST (UTC+2)
INSEE/Postal code 78524 / 78150
Elevation 114–179 m (374–587 ft)
(avg. 150 m or 490 ft)

1 French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km² (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries.

2 Population without double counting: residents of multiple communes (e.g., students and military personnel) only counted once.

Rocquencourt is a commune in the Yvelines department in the Île-de-France in north-central France, about 4 kilometres (2.5 mi) north-west of Versailles and 19 kilometres (12 mi) west of center Paris.

The commune is mainly known as the location of a research unit of INRIA (in the Domaine de Voluceau, formerly Camp Voluceau, used by SHAPE) as well as a freeway exchange known as the Rocquencourt Triangle (triangle de Rocquencourt), which is often mentioned in traffic news.

History

On 1 July 1815, Napoleon's Grande Armée fought its last battle in Rocquencourt and Le Chesnay. After the defeat of Waterloo on 18 June 1815, Grouchy's army withdrew to Paris via Namur and Dinant, reaching Paris on 29 June, a few days before the Prussians, who camped at Versailles.

While negotiating the final armistice, Exelmans was ordered to attack the Prussians at Versailles on 1 July 1815. Under attack the Prussians retreated from Versailles and headed east, but were blocked by the French at Vélizy. They failed to re-enter Versailles and headed for Saint-Germain-en-Laye. Their first squadron came under fire at the entrance of Rocquencourt and attempted to escape through the fields. They were forced into a small, narrow street in Le Chesnay and killed or captured. However, the main body of the Prussian army succeeded in reaching Saint-Germain. (From Presentation of Rocquencourt.)

Points of interest

See also

References

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