Gentilly, Val-de-Marne
Gentilly () is a commune in the southern suburbs of Paris, France. It is the closest commune to Paris, located from the city center. Name. The name Gentilly was recorded for the first time in the 6th century as "Gentilly", a royal estate of some importance where coinage was minted. The etymology of the name seems to be "estate of Gentilius", a Gallo-Roman landowner. However, some other researchers think that the name is connected with Latin "gentilis" (meaning "gentile", "pagan", "foreigner") in reference to foreign goldsmiths who may have settled in Gentilly in the Early Middle  Ages. History. On 1 January 1860, the city of Paris was enlarged by annexing neighboring communes. On that occasion, about half of the commune of Gentilly was annexed to Paris, and forms now the neighborhoods of Maison-Blanche and Glacière, in the 13th arrondissement of Paris. On 13 December 1896, about half of the remaining territory of Gentilly was detached and became the commune of Le Kremlin-Bicêtre, leaving Gentilly with about a quarter of its pre-1860 area. Culture. The photographer Robert Doisneau was born in Gentilly (14 April 1912). There is a Maison de la photographie Robert Doisneau an  international cultural center for humanist photography. Transport. Gentilly is served by Gentilly station on Paris RER line . Education. Gentilly is served by: