Nanterre

History

Archeological discoveries made between 1994 and 2005 found a Gallic necropolis which has been dated to the third century BC, and also call into debate both the exact location of the pre-Roman capital of the Parisii and the initial site of Lutetia, the Roman era Paris. The large necropolis, as well as working people's homes from some time later in the ancient era, is near the bank of the Seine, in the northwest of Nanterre, and might be the sacred place that is referred to etymologically. The archeological work in Nanterre has suggested over 15 ha of pre-Roman or Roman-era construction. These archeological findings may be an indication that Nanterre was the closest pre-Roman settlement to the modern centre of Paris.

Lutetia is mentioned by Julius Caesar in 50 BCE, reporting an assembly in Lutetia in 53 BC between himself, commander of the Roman Legions, and local Gallic leaders.

Sainte Genevieve, patron saint of Paris, was born in Nanterre .

During the repression of January and February 1894, the police conducted raids targeting the anarchists living there, without much success.

The Hôtel de Ville (town hall), designed in the shape of a pyramid, was completed in 1973.

On 27 March 2002, Richard Durn, a disgruntled local activist, shot and killed eight town councilors and 19 others were wounded at the town hall in what the French press dubbed the Nanterre massacre. On 28 March, the murderer killed himself by jumping from the 4th floor of 36 Quai des Orfèvres, in Paris, while he was questioned by two policemen about the reason for his killings.

In June 2023, seventeen year old Nahel Merzouk was killed by a police officer following a traffic stop. His death sparked violent unrest around France.

Administration

Nanterre is divided into two cantons:

• Canton of Nanterre-1
• Canton of Nanterre-2

Transport

Nanterre is served by three stations on RER A: , , and .

Nanterre-Université station is also an interchange station on the Transilien Paris-Saint-Lazare suburban rail line.

Economy

Société Générale has its headquarters in the Tours Société Générale in La Défense and Nanterre. The company moved into the building in 1995.

Groupe du Louvre and subsidiary Louvre Hôtels have their head office in Village 5 in La Défense and Nanterre.

Sports

The basketball club Nanterre 92 plays at Palais des Sports Maurice Thorez.

The rugby union club Racing 92 opened the new Paris La Défense Arena in October 2017 and played their first game in the new facility in December 2017. It has a capacity of 32,000 for rugby and 40,000 for concerts. The venue opened as U Arena, but received its current name in June 2018 through a sponsorship deal with Paris La Défense, the company that manages the La Défense business district.

It also hosts WWE Clash in Paris in August 2025.

Demographics

Population

| graph-pos = bottom |1793 |1991 |1800 |2222 |1806 |2340 |1821 |1903 |1831 |2500 |1836 |2590 |1841 |2792 |1846 |2842 |1851 |2770 |1856 |2919 |1861 |3549 |1866 |3907 |1872 |3944 |1876 |4279 |1881 |4984 |1886 |5592 |1891 |10430 |1896 |11950 |1901 |14140 |1906 |17434 |1911 |21349 |1921 |27042 |1926 |35843 |1931 |42978 |1936 |46065 |1946 |41860 |1954 |53037 |1962 |83416 |1968 |90332 |1975 |95032 |1982 |88578 |1990 |84565 |1999 |84281 |2007 |88875 |2012 |90722 |2017 |95105 |2023 |97783

Immigration

|EU-15=3.9 |non-EU-15=14.9

International relations

Nanterre is twinned with:

• ROU Craiova, Romania
• ITA Pesaro, Italy
• ALG Tlemcen, Algeria
• RUS Veliky Novgorod, Russia
• UK Watford, United Kingdom
• SVK Žilina, Slovakia

References

References

1. (30 November 2023). "Répertoire national des élus: les maires". data.gouv.fr, Plateforme ouverte des données publiques françaises.
2. (July 2025). "Nanterre et les Parisii}}{{Dead link".
3. Ancient and Medieval Paris: A Background to the Gothic era. Athena Review Vol.4 No.2 pages 22-26 [http://www.athenapub.com/14roman-paris.htm] {{Webarchive. link. (9 October 2015)
4. Although this had been thought to possibly be [[Île de la Cité]], largely since Caesar mentions an island, the river at Nanterre follows two channels around an island. In 52 BC, the Parisii took up arms with the Gallic war leader [[Vercingetorix]], and were defeated by [[Titus Labienus]], one of Caesar's legates. Caesar mentions in his ''Commentarii'' that the Parisii destroyed the bridges and set fire to Lutetia before the arrival of the Roman forces.Histoire et Histoires: Du 5ème Volume 1 Editions Depeyrot Paris 2014
5. Catholic Encyclopedia [http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/06413f.htm St. Genevieve]
6. (3 January 1894). "Les anarchistes". La Dépêche.
7. (2 January 1894). "Deux mille perquisitions". L'Estafette.
8. (3 January 1894). "Une série générale de perquisitions : résultat négatif des recherches". L'Éclair.
9. "Hôtel de Ville de Nanterre". Structurae.
10. Tourancheau, Patricia. (2008-01-18). "Tueur d'élites". [[Libération]].
11. Décugis, Jean-Michel. (2002-04-05). "Richard Durn : Itinéraire d'un tueur d'élus". [[Le Point]].
12. Henley, Jon. (29 June 2023). "Boy shot dead by French police was 'well-liked kid' with 'real potential'". The Guardian.
13. "Société Générale: deux tours à la Défense". Lejournaldunet.com.
14. "[http://www.groupedulouvre.com/en/contact.aspx Contact] {{webarchive. link. (11 September 2010 ." [[Groupe du Louvre]]. Retrieved on 27 June 2010.)
15. "[http://www.nanterre.fr/Je%2Bconsulte/Plan/Plan%2Binteractif.htm Plan interactif] {{Webarchive. link. (30 August 2009 ." Nanterre. Retrieved on 27 June 2010.)
16. "[http://www.louvrehotels.com/en/legale-notice.html Legal notice] {{Webarchive. link. (13 August 2010 ." [[Louvre Hôtels]]. Retrieved on 27 June 2010.)
17. Escot, Richard. (16 October 2017). "Le nouvel écrin du Racing 92, la U Arena, ouvre ses portes". [[L'Équipe]].
18. (12 June 2018). "La U Arena devient Paris La Défense Arena". Paris La Défense Arena.
19. (7 May 2018). ""Paris La Défense Arena" : la U Arena de Nanterre se fait un nouveau nom". Le Parisien.
20. {{Cassini-Ehess. 24555. Nanterre
21. [https://www.insee.fr/fr/statistiques/8643952?geo=COM-92050#tableau-POPREF_G1 Population municipale entre 1968 et 2023], INSEE
22. "Les six villes jumelées". Nanterre.