A simple Carolingian villa first mentioned in the 9th century, Suresnes remained a small outlying village until the 19th century. Not connected to the main roads leading to the capital, it was almost self-sufficient, even though it suffered several destructions during the Middle Ages and Modern Era.
However, as the hillsides became covered with vineyards, the town's reputation grew, and writers celebrated the wine of Suresnes. In the 17th and 18th centuries, numerous bourgeois and aristocratic residences with vast gardens grew up around the historic center, where wealthy Parisians came to relax.
In , one of them even made his property available to host negotiation conferences between Catholics and Protestants , which helped end the Wars of Religion. From the midth century onwards, the face of Suresnes changed radically, with the arrival of the train, tramway, and navigation services on the Seine: the town was now within easy reach of Parisians, who flocked to the guinguettes lining its quays, often after attending the races at the nearby Longchamp racecourse.
The election of Henri Sellier as mayor of Suresnes in led to considerable urban change: a promoter of workers' housing and driven by hygienic ideas, the mayor increased the number of public services schools, medical dispensaries, etc. However, he was dismissed by Vichy in The second half of the 20th century saw a new urban metamorphosis, as factories disappeared and were gradually replaced by residential buildings and service and high-tech companies.
Until the 19th century, this meant that Suresnes and the surrounding towns were geographically isolated. The mountain is located on the last spur of the Beauce plateau, on its northeastern edge. During the same period, when many lagoons were spreading out, seawater evaporated, forming gypsum , giving Suresnes large gypsum quarries.
