Marolles-en-Hurepoix is a small attractive town of around 4,700 inhabitants situated in rural surroundings in the Canton Bretigny in the Department de l'Essonne some 40km/25 miles to the south of Paris in the région of Ile-de-France. It can be reached by train on RER ligne C from Gare du Austerlitz in the centre of Paris in less than 40 minutes. Consequently many residents commute to Paris and other large towns in the region to work in industry and commerce. It has a supermarket and a number of small shops including, of course, 2 boulangerie. Like Southam it is situated in an agricultural region and has small industrial estates on the outskirts.
Apart from Paris there are many other places of interest in the area. It is only 6km to the historic and very attractive town of Arpajon. The palaces of Versailles and Fontainbleu are each only about 40km from Marolles. The Mairie (Town Hall) fronts on to an attractive new square in the town centre opposite which is a wide tree lined boulevard with boules courts and other facilities including a sports hall and athletics and football stadium which are well used by many local clubs and associations. To the rear of the Mairie is a large recreation ground and sports field alongside which is a sheltered housing complex and also one of the two schools. The nearby Roman Catholic Church is another focal point.
Those who know Southam will see that there are many similarities between the two towns. To learn more about the town visit their website by clicking http://www.marolles-en-hurepoix.fr