By 1973, many of the 144 families living in the area had abandoned the town. Only a handful remain today.
Source: REUTERS
Parts of the town still look gorgeous and pastoral, like this 19th century manor, making it obvious why families chose to live here in the first place.
Source: REUTERS
Yet for the most part, the city has fallen into disarray. So why did the residents abandon the town 40 years ago?
Source: REUTERS
In 1972, Roissy's Charles de Gaulle Airport officially opened. Goussainville was in its direct flight path.
Source: REUTERS
Which meant planes would fly over the town all the time. Residents began moving away, unable to stand the noise.
Source: REUTERS
Here, a commercial airliner flies over the 14th century Eglise St. Pierre et St. Paul Church (it's one of the only buildings that has remained in good shape since it's classified as an historic monument).
Source: REUTERS
As if the noise wasn't enough, in 1973, the supersonic Tupolev Tu-144 crashed in Goussainville during the Paris Air Show, killing all six people on board and eight others on the ground.
Source: TIME
That was enough to convince those still living in the village to leave their homes without selling them and move away from Goussainville.
Source: REUTERS
Today, the ruins of the town show what life for residents was like before the Charles de Gaulle airport. This former cafe was called "Au Paradis" (in Heaven).
Source: REUTERS
A lock and a chain secures one of the access gates to a house in Goussainville — perhaps the resident plans to return someday.
Source: REUTERS