[4] During the 3rd century, a seven-meter high defensive wall, about half of which still exists, was erected around the settlement in response to Frankish incursions.

[5] The monarchs of the early French dynasties lived here, attracted by the proximity of the Chantilly Forest and its venison, and built a castle on the foundations of the Roman settlement.

In 987, Archbishop Adalbero of Reims called together an assembly, and asked them to choose Hugh Capet as king of France.

The mayor, Eugène Odent was executed by the Germans along with six other civilian hostages: a tanner, a carter, a cafe waiter, a chauffeur, a baker's helper and a stonecutter.

The city reached its apogee in the 12th and 13th centuries as trade in wool and leather increased, while vineyards began to grow.

In 1493, King Charles VIII of France, son of Louis XI, signed the Treaty of Senlis with the Duke of Burgundy, Maximilian I of Austria.

[7] In 1972, Senlis was made into a pedestrian town for a weekend in September, and this became a regular event, allowing the public to discover the gardens and hotels particuliers hidden behind gateways.

Several citizens were executed by firing squad in early September, including the mayor, Eugène Odent, who was charged with orchestrating “terrorist” civilian resistance — shuttering buildings for the convenience of snipers, failing to demand orderly submission from his neighbours and generally inconveniencing German troops.

The historic look of Senlis, with its ancient cobbled alleys and its proximity to Paris, made it a major destination for cinema.