RAYNE   Twinning   Association

The ancient town of Verberie has a long and colourful past.  In the 6th century it was a city comparable with our current provincial towns and then became an important medieval city, although as a result of various wars it was reduced to a simple borough in the 16th century.  After being ransacked by the Normans, Verberie was restored in 885, then pillaged several times during the 10th century.  Burned down by the English in 1359, it was rebuilt by Charles V.

Over a period of time, Verberie was visited by a number of French seigneurs and royalty and was the scene of many battles.  Originally encircled by city walls during the reign of Francis I, five gates could still be seen at the beginning of the 19th century.

There are still some houses in the town dating back to the 16th and 17th centuries.

A famine was the cause of the people of Verberie rallying to the cause of the French Revolution in 1789 which they greeted with joy.  As an expression of their gratitude on 25th June, 1792, the inhabitants planted the tree of freedom.

The Chateau d'Aramont, originally built by the Seigneur of Raray in the 17th century and set up as a stronghold by Louis III, was then rebuilt in the 19th century; constructed on the site of the original palace of Charlemagne, relics of the ancient walls and a 13th century warhead can still be seen.  A square tower was demolished in 1847.  The chateau is the current registered office of the Regroupement de Sauvegarde de l'Oise and has been the scene of a number of Twinning celebrations.

During World War II Verberie was the scene of fighting on 1st September, 1914 and in 1918.  The town has several war cemeteries.  The French National Cemetery contains the graves of 3221 French soldiers, of whom 2339 are unidentified, and 52 soldiers from the United Kingdom.  On the Twinning visit to Verberie in 2007, a plaque was unveiled and a wreath laid in the Military Cemetery on the graves of 5 British soldiers who lost their lives in the first World War.

Since the 7th century the inhabitants of Verberie have been called "Sautriauts".  The Sautriauts are 2 children entwined together in a ball - the feet of one with the head of the other and rolled down the hillside from the top to the bottom.  Although this unique entertainment originated in the town of Verberie, before the reign of Henry VI troupes of sautriauts were formed in various provinces of the kingdom in imitation.  However, to this day the inhabitants of Verberie are still referred to as "Sautriauts".