Creil

Town to the northwest of Paris, France, in the département of Oise, on the River Oise; population (1999 est) 31,400. It is an important railway junction, and many of its inhabitants commute to Paris. Industries include the manufacture of steel, rolling stock, machinery, chemicals, pottery, and glass. It has a church that dates from the 12th–15th centuries.

The large number of prehistoric finds in the area indicate very early occupation. It is argued that the name of the town has Celtic origins, and is related to the word ‘craig’, meaning ‘rock’. Industrialization and the coming of the railways saw Creil increase its population from 700 in 1720 to 8,200 in 1891. The town suffered extensive damage from German bombardments between 1940 and 1944.

Features The Galle-Juillet Museum, built on the site of the 14th-century royal castle, is a 19th-century building containing paintings, engravings, toys, and a rich collection of Creil and Creil-Montereau earthenware.

A group of houses known as ‘les tufs’ were constructed in the 19th century, by being dug out of a nearby rock face. Some of the properties are still occupied.