La Rochette, Seine-et-Marne
La Rochette is a commune in the Seine-et-Marne department in the Île-de-France region in north-central France. It a small, particularly affluent community bordering the Seine river to the east and the historical Fontainebleau forest to the south. History. The oldest documentation known concerning La Rochette dates back to the year 1047. Notable Sites. The commune houses many villas along the Seine river as well as many estates and points of interest. In the centre of the village the Maison Raulin (former estate of Gustave Raulin - Architect for the City of  Paris) stands out as a particularly tall structure. Near by the oldest building of the commune, l'Eglise Notre-Dame de la Visitation (dating back to the 13th century), can be found. Across the church is the estate of Le Rocheton. Since its inception, Le Rocheton has served a number of different purposes. Through the 19th century the estate belonged to the Rochefoucauld family until being purchased in 1816 by Saint-Joseph de Lyon nuns. Their prime mission was to offer education and health care to children. In 1946 the estate was acquired by the YMCA. Because of its close proximity  to Paris, the American army and the YMCA had used Le Rocheton as a halfway house during World War II. American soldiers who had been taken captive by the German army would stay at Le Rocheton prior to returning home to America. In the 1950s, the centre began to accommodate asylum seekers from all over the world. To this day it is still owned by the YMCA. Its primary purpose is to serve as a hotel for tourists, families, and groups. Educational and professional training programs are also offered. Sports. The village provides and equestrian centre as well as an  indoor/outdoor tennis club. Le Rocheton YMCA also offers a number of activities such as mountain biking and basketball. Demographics. The inhabitants are called "Rochettois". Residents of the commune tend to consist of higher income families and individuals.