town, a southeastern suburb of Paris, Val-de-Marne département, Île-de-France région, north-central France. Originally an industrial centre, Créteil became the object of a major program of urban redevelopment in the late 1960s, which created virtually a new town. Apart from a wide range of industries (including electronics, food products, beverages, and motor vehicle components), the town is above all a major administrative and service centre. Créteil is home to a university, concentrates the health and hospital services of the département, and offers a range of recreational opportunities as well as a major retail complex. It is linked to the centre of Paris by métro. Pop. (1999) 82,154; (2004 est.) 87,300.