32 kilometers (20 miles) from the center of the city of PARIS, L'ISLE-ADAM is located in the middle of the VAL d'OISE department, one of the largest in "ILE DE FRANCE", the heart of France. On the banks of the Oise River, a lovely forest, with ponds, surrounds the town.

L'Isle-Adam, it's origins
The small Gallo-Roman village (1 st century B.C.) that became a territory of the Saint Denis Abbey was invaded by the Normans during the 9 th century A.C.
A castle was built on the Island (l'isle) and owned by a of French knight (11 th century), ADAM the First, named " ADAM de L'Isle " who settled the city of L'Isle-Adam.

L'Isle-Adam is an historic site :
The princes of Conti built splendid 17 th century castles and, with the help of the painter Fragonard, (18 th century), wonderful landscapes and a Chinese pagoda, which still stands. After the Revolution of 1789, the castles were destroyed.
A splendid gothic church remains in the center of the city. Its 500-year consecration was celebrated in 1999.

L'Isle-Adam today
The city of L'Isle-Adam is a country seat (canton). The canton has 26.078 inhabitants and the city itself 11.307.

Today, this former Gallic Village, which was to became Balzac's "Paradise on Earth", benefits from an exceptionally relaxing environnement: canoeing and sailing on the Oise river, as well as fishing in its ponds.
There is also swimming and sunbathing on the sands of its riverside beach which is the largest in France, without forgetting the horse-riding in the forest with its four riding clubs and the 18-hole golf course on 180 hectares (440 acres).
It is pleasant to stroll along the avenues which were laid out by Le Nôtre for the Prince de Conti - who also designed the Versailles castle gardens - and where greenery enhances the monuments:
The 16 th century church and bridge, the Chinese Pavilion, the fountain of the Conti stables, the Museums.

L'Isle-Adam is one of free places of inspiration for Masters painters - including impressionists - on the Oise Valley, the " Valley of Painters ". Housed in an elegant seventeenth-century building, the Louis Senlecq Museum of Art and History is home to an important collection of paintings, drawings and etchings. Emile Boggio, Jules Dupré and Maurice de Vlaminck are just some of the artists who worked in the region. Pre-impressionism works can be seen in this museum. Also on display are some lovely examples of the figurines produced by the five ceramics manufacturers who were based in the town until the Second World War. In the Jacques Henri Lartigue Exhibition and Art Centre, housed in the "petit hotel Bergeret" dating from the eighteenth century, visitors will find more than 300 pictures donated by the artist and his wife, Florette, to the Town Council of L'Isle-Adam.

Beside its green and touristy environment L'Isle-Adam is a modern equipped city: - stadium - gymnasium - Swimming pools - safety equipment and infrastructures - Public hospital, private clinic - Centers for child and family welfare - Educational equipment : - Nurseries and pre school - Public and private catholic elementary schools - Public junior High-School - High-School (lycée).

There are more than a hundred cultural and sport associations : - Sports : swimming - soccer -rugby - basket and hand ball, gymnastics, tennis, horseriding and jumping… - Cultural : chorus - musical comedy -association for graphic arts and painting… The Association "Les Amis du jumelage Marbach-am-Neckar - L'Isle-Adam" are in charge of implementing the links between the two German and French cities, officially twinned since 1988. " Terre d'Europe " an other association dedicated for enhancing friendly relations with Europeans is linked with the Twinning Association of Stratford-Upon-Avon . Warm relations and exchanges between the two cities exist since 1983. The city is very deeply dedicated to Web technologies. The Association Center (CALVA) developed a Web Center where the citizen is educated on new communication technologies. This Center is in charge of the webmaster of the present municipal Internet site.

The green and leisure environment of L'Isle-Adam does not prevent the city from being very active in the development of the local économy .

L'Isle-Adam is located in the heart of major economic areas, such as Cergy-Pontoise, where many famous international firms are established.
At the exit of the Paris-London Highway, twenty minutes away from Roissy-Charles-de Gaulle Airport and the " Grand Stade de France ", the City is dedicated to welcome new medium size international companies. It already developed a specific area of activities, the "Village Entreprises" close to to the City Center.