Capital of the arrondissement of the department of Seine-et-Oise, France. The origin of the Jewish community of Etampes seems to go back to the twelfth century. King Louis VII. appointed a provost in this city, who alone had the right to enforce the payment of debts to the Jews, and who was forbidden to arrest debtors during the fair. Philip Augustus expelled the Jews in 1181, and transformed their synagogue into the Church of the Holy Cross, for which the pope claimed the privileges which the synagogue had enjoyed. On their readmission the Count of Etampes was appointed guardian of the privileges of the Jews.
The rabbis of Etampes took part in the Synod of Troyes (1160). Toward the end of the twelfth century R. Nathan, son of R. Meshullam ben Nathan of Melun, lived at Etampes.