# Gometz-le-Châtel

Gometz-le-Châtel (French pronunciation: ) is a commune in the Essonne department of France. It is a southern suburb of Paris, 25 km from the center of Paris.

## Geography

This village is near Les Ulis, Bures-sur-Yvette, Gif-sur-Yvette and Gometz-la-Ville, along the old road from Paris to Chartres, crossing the Hurepoix.

### Climate

Gometz-le-Châtel has an oceanic climate (Köppen climate classification Cfb). The average annual temperature in Gometz-le-Châtel is 11.3 °C (52.3 °F). The average annual rainfall is 734.7 mm (28.93 in) with December as the wettest month. The temperatures are highest on average in July, at around 19.3 °C (66.7 °F), and lowest in January, at around 4.1 °C (39.4 °F). The highest temperature ever recorded in Gometz-le-Châtel was 42.8 °C (109.0 °F) on 25 July 2019; the coldest temperature ever recorded was −18.2 °C (−0.8 °F) on 16 January 1985.
Climate data for Gometz-le-Châtel (1991−2020 normals, extremes 1964−present) :
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °C (°F) | 15.3 (59.5) | 21.1 (70.0) | 25.8 (78.4) | 28.1 (82.6) | 31.2 (88.2) | 37.8 (100.0) | 42.8 (109.0) | 40.0 (104.0) | 35.1 (95.2) | 29.3 (84.7) | 21.0 (69.8) | 16.8 (62.2) | 42.8 (109.0) |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 6.7 (44.1) | 7.9 (46.2) | 11.9 (53.4) | 15.6 (60.1) | 19.2 (66.6) | 22.6 (72.7) | 25.2 (77.4) | 25.2 (77.4) | 21.1 (70.0) | 15.9 (60.6) | 10.3 (50.5) | 7.1 (44.8) | 15.7 (60.3) |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | 4.1 (39.4) | 4.6 (40.3) | 7.7 (45.9) | 10.5 (50.9) | 13.9 (57.0) | 17.1 (62.8) | 19.3 (66.7) | 19.2 (66.6) | 15.8 (60.4) | 11.9 (53.4) | 7.4 (45.3) | 4.5 (40.1) | 11.3 (52.3) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | 1.5 (34.7) | 1.3 (34.3) | 3.4 (38.1) | 5.3 (41.5) | 8.6 (47.5) | 11.6 (52.9) | 13.4 (56.1) | 13.2 (55.8) | 10.4 (50.7) | 7.9 (46.2) | 4.4 (39.9) | 2.0 (35.6) | 6.9 (44.4) |
| Record low °C (°F) | −18.2 (−0.8) | −12.8 (9.0) | −9.9 (14.2) | −4.5 (23.9) | −1.0 (30.2) | 0.8 (33.4) | 4.2 (39.6) | 4.1 (39.4) | 0.7 (33.3) | −4.9 (23.2) | −9.0 (15.8) | −13.5 (7.7) | −18.2 (−0.8) |
| Average precipitation mm (inches) | 59.9 (2.36) | 53.7 (2.11) | 53.5 (2.11) | 51.9 (2.04) | 73.1 (2.88) | 60.7 (2.39) | 60.8 (2.39) | 59.9 (2.36) | 52.6 (2.07) | 64.9 (2.56) | 67.1 (2.64) | 76.6 (3.02) | 734.7 (28.93) |
| Average precipitation days (≥ 1.0 mm) | 12.0 | 10.5 | 10.0 | 9.2 | 9.9 | 8.9 | 7.6 | 7.8 | 8.1 | 10.8 | 11.6 | 13.0 | 119.4 |
| Source: Météo-France ||||||||||||||

## History

* This is a very old village, known since 1068.
* A train line was built between Paris to Chartres via Gallardon, at the beginning of the 20th century, with a station at Gometz-le-Châtel. It was used from 1931 to 1939, but there is no traffic nowadays. Paris RER, B line, can be used to go there by train Bures-sur-Yvette (Paris RER) or La Hacquinière (Paris RER).
* An experimental Aérotrain was built, from Gometz-le-Châtel to Limours, for a trial, from 1966 to 1977, a creation of Jean Bertin (railway engineer). This experiment was replaced by the TGV, operating currently.

## Population

Inhabitants of Gometz-le-Châtel are called Castelgometziens in French.

## Places to see

* Saint-Clair's Church built during the 10th Century.
* Viaduc des Fauvette
* La Fontaine Miraculeuse

## Personalities

* Charles Peguy (French author) lived here for a time.